off the record
Not for publication
Off the record describes information shared with the understanding it won't be attributed to the source or reported publicly.
A journalist's source speaks off the record to share sensitive details without being identified: Off the record, the mayor is planning to resign.
The phrase implies confidentiality and trust between speaker and listener.
- hush-hushHighly confidential matter
- embargoedProhibited from export
- unattributableCannot be assigned origin
- confidentialityQuality of protecting secrets
- behind closed doorsIn private, unobserved
behind the scenes · discretion · privileged information · need to know · secrecy · non-disclosure · background · in confidence · deep throat · candid · unspoken agreement · privacy · anonymity · classified · media blackout · under the radar · clandestine · restricted
- courtroom expressionsobjection, sustained, overruled, all rise, guilty
- journalismreporters, interview, editors, student editors, school paper
- pressnewspaper, press laws, free press, newsroom, press cards
- secrecysecrecy, secret, secrets, confidential, classified
- confidentialityNDA, non-disclosure, nondisclosure, confidentiality clause, confidentiality
- journalism termsheadline, headlines, byline, bylines, lead
off the recordon the record
Openly stated, quotable
for the record · on record · quotable · attributable · officially
off the recordon the record
Openly stated, quotable
public · official · openly · publicly · officially
record, recording, records, recorded, recorder, unrecorded, re-record, pre-recorded, off-the-record