off the cuff
Say it: off the KUF /ˌɒf ðə ˈkʌf/ · idiom
What “off the cuff” means
Said or done without preparing first.
More precisely: Without preparation; improvised.
Example: “Her off-the-cuff answer was better than most people's rehearsed speeches.”
When to use it
When someone speaks or responds spontaneously without preparing. Common in conversation and work, usually neutral or admiring.
Similar words
impromptu, improvised, ad lib
Quick check
At a wedding, someone unexpectedly asks you to speak, and you give a toast without notes. Your speech is…
off the cuff or by the book?
Show the answer
off the cuff
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