offhand

offhand
{adj.} 1. Informal; casual; careless. * /Dick found Bob's offhand manner inappropriate for business./ 2. In an improvised fashion. * /Offhand, I would guess that at least five thousand people attended the festival./

Dictionary of American idioms. 2013.

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  • Offhand — Off hand , a. Instant; unprepared; ready; extemporaneous; unrehearsed; as, an offhand speech; offhand excuses; an offhand comment. adv. In an offhand manner; as, he replied offhand. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • offhand — [adj1] abrupt, careless aloof, breezy, brusque, casual, cavalier, cool*, curt, easygoing, folksy, glib, informal, laid back, mellow, perfunctory, unceremonious, unconcerned, uninterested; concepts 267,401,542 Ant. calculated, careful, considered …   New thesaurus

  • offhand — [ôf′hand′, ôf′hand΄] adv. without prior preparation or study; at once; extemporaneously adj. 1. said or done offhand; extemporaneous; unpremeditated 2. casual, curt, informal, brusque, etc.: Also offhanded offhandedly adv. offhandedness n …   English World dictionary

  • offhand — index cursory, impulsive (rash), informal, nonchalant, perfunctory, slipshod, unpremeditated Burto …   Law dictionary

  • offhand — *extemporaneous, extempore, extemporary, improvised, impromptu, unpremeditated Analogous words: casual, desultory, *random: abrupt, hasty, sudden, *precipitate, impetuous: brusque, curt, blunt (see BLUFF) Contrasted words: studied, advised,… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • offhand — ► ADJECTIVE ▪ ungraciously nonchalant or cool in manner. ► ADVERB ▪ without previous consideration …   English terms dictionary

  • offhand — offhandedly, adv. offhandedness, n. /awf hand , of /, adv. 1. cavalierly, curtly, or brusquely: to reply offhand. 2. without previous thought or preparation; extempore: to decide offhand to take a trip. adj. 3. informal, casual, curt, or brusque …   Universalium

  • offhand — off|hand1 [ˌɔfˈhænd US ˌo:f ] adj 1.) BrE not very friendly towards someone when you are talking to them ▪ She said you were a bit offhand with her this afternoon. ▪ an offhand tone of voice 2.) said or done without thinking or planning ▪ an… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • offhand — I. adverb Date: 1680 without premeditation or preparation ; extempore < couldn t give the figures offhand > II. adjective Date: 1692 1. casual, informal < a relaxed, offhand manner > …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • offhand — 1. adjective /ˌɔfˈhænd/ a) without planning or thinking ahead She gave an offhand speech. b) careless; without sufficient thought or consideration He doesnt realise how hurtful his offhand re …   Wiktionary

  • offhand — [ɒfˈhænd] adj I 1) unfriendly in the way that you treat someone 2) an offhand remark is one that you do not think carefully about II adv offhand [ɒfˈhænd] immediately and without checking the facts I can t remember their names offhand.[/ex] …   Dictionary for writing and speaking English

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