off-the-cuff
Without prior preparation
Off-the-cuff describes something said or done without preparation or forethought: an off-the-cuff remark, She gave an off-the-cuff speech that was better than most prepared ones.
The phrase comes from the supposed practice of speakers jotting notes on their shirt cuffs.
As an adverb, usually unhyphenated: He answered off the cuff.
Unscripted speech or remark
- extemporaneousDone without advance preparation
- impromptuWithout advance preparation
- unscriptedNot pre-written
- unrehearsedNot practiced beforehand
on-the-spot · spur-of-the-moment · winging · freestyle · ad-hoc · unplanned · made-up · unprepared
Relaxed, not official
- relaxedFree of stress
- offhandCasually unrehearsed
- breezyMildly windy, or nonchalant
- nonchalantCalmly unconcerned
conversational · throwaway · unguarded · loose · easygoing · unstudied · natural · unaffected
ad-lib
Unscripted speech or remark
- extemporaneousDone without advance preparation
- impromptuWithout advance preparation
- unscriptedNot pre-written
unrehearsed · on-the-spot · spur-of-the-moment · winging · freestyle · ad-hoc · unplanned · made-up · unprepared · spontaneous
informal
Relaxed, not official
nonchalant · conversational · throwaway · unguarded · loose · easygoing · unstudied · natural · unaffected · effortless
- improvisationimprovised, impromptu, ad lib, freestyle, ad-lib
- Unscriptedimprovisation, improv, ad-lib, freestyle, spontaneous
- accidentsaccident, car accident, bike accident, mishap, traffic accident
off-the-cuffprepared
Made ready beforehand
rehearsed · scripted · memorized · planned · premeditated
off-the-cuffdeliberate
Consciously chosen, not accidental
considered · calculated · thought-out · measured · careful
cuff, cuffs, handcuffs, handcuff, handcuffed, cuffed, cuffing, cufflink, handcuffing