Dictionary: OFFJ – OFFZ

• OFF-JIVING
n. distasteful behaviour …1940s African-American sl.
 
• OFF-KEEL
adj. not in good health, slightly sick; off-colour …1968 Amer. dial.
 
• OFF-KESSEN
adj. cast off …Bk1905 Eng. dial.
 
• OFF-KILTER
adj. awry, askew …1930 Amer. dial.
 
• OFF-LAT
n. a great display …Bk1905 Sc.
 
• OFFLE
vb. to walk in a lazy, slouching, aimless manner; to shuffle …Bk1905 Eng. dial.
 
• OFFLET
n. a channel for letting water run away …1744 Sc.
 
• OFFLIKE
adv. casually, offhandedly …1949 Amer. dial.
 
• OFF LIKE A BRIDE’S NIGHTIE
adj. leaving or acting extremely fast, very speedily …1950s Aust. sl.
 
• OFF LIKE A BUCKET OF PRAWNS
adj. extremely rotten; stinking …1960s Aust. sl.
 
• OFF LIKE A BUCKET OF PRAWNS IN THE HOT SUN
adj. 1. leaving very quickly …1960s Aust. sl.
adj. 2. stinking, rotten …1960s Aust. sl.
 
• OFF LIKE A BUCKET OF PRAWNS IN THE MIDDAY SUN
adj. extremely rotten; stinking …1960s Aust. sl.
 
• OFF LIKE A LONG-DOG
adj. departing very swiftly …20C Eng. dial.
 
• OFF LIKE A PROM DRESS
adj. leaving or acting extremely fast, very speedily …1950s US college sl.
 
• OFF LIKE BOB’S HORSE, WITH NOBODY TO PAY THE RECKONING
phr. to decamp with all the money, furniture and personal effects …c1830 nautical sl.
 
• OFF-LOAD
vb. in rugby: to pass the ball …20C Aust. sl.
 
• OFF-LOCKED
adj. locked up …1869 Eng. dial.
 
• OFFMAGANDY
n. the best and choices of delicacies …Bk1905 Eng. dial.
 
• OFF-MAN
n. a stranger, one from a distance …Bk1905 Eng. dial.
 
• OFFMANS
n. the advanced preparation of a means of escape …1990s UK criminals’ sl.
 
• OFF NOR ON
adj. neither one thing nor another; uncertain, vacillating …Bk1905 Eng. dial.
 
• OFF OF ONE’S FEED
adj. unable to eat normally; slightly ill; indisposed …1965 Amer. dial.
 
• OFF OF ONE’S TONGUE
adv. from memory …Bk1905 Sc.
 
• OFF OF THE HOOKS
adj. shabby, worn out, ailing …Bk1905 Eng. dial.
 
• OFF OF THE SIDE
adj. deranged in mind, insane …1895 Eng. dial.
 
• OFF ONE’S ASS
adj. no longer annoying, harassing, vexing, scolding, etc. …1969 Amer. sl.
 
• OFF ONE’S ASS
adv. extremely …1980s students’ sl.
 
• OFF ONE’S BAP
adj. crazy, insane …1980s sl.
 
• OFF ONE’S BASE
adj. 1. insane, crazy, confused, muddled, mistaken …1891 US sl.
adj. 2. acting in an anti-social or otherwise unacceptable manner …1930s sl., orig. baseball usage
 
• OFF ONE’S BAT
adj. out of health …Bk1905 Eng. dial.
 
• OFF ONE’S BEAN
adj. 1. insane, eccentric, crazy; demented …1940s sl.
adj. 2. drunk …20C sl.
 
• OFF ONE’S BEAT
adj. drifting away from the subject in hand, out of one’s usual routine …1900s Aust. sl.
 
• OFF ONE’S BIKE
adj. very angry …1950s Aust. sl.
 
• OFF ONE’S BLOCK
adj. 1. angry …1910s sl., orig. military
adj. 2. insane, crazy …1910s sl., orig. military
adj. 3. intoxicated by alcohol …20C US sl.
 
• OFF ONE’S BONCE
adj. 1. insane, out of one’s mind …M19 sl.
adj. 2. drunk …1960s sl.
adj. 3. intoxicated by a drug …1960s drug culture sl.
 
• OFF ONE’S BOX
adj. insane; out of one’s mind; crazy; foolishly wrong; mistaken …1903 Amer. sl.
 
• OFF ONE’S CABASE
adj. mistaken …1914 Amer. dial.
 
• OFF ONE’S CAKE
adj. crazy, insane …1980s sl.
 
• OFF ONE’S CHOMP
adj. mad, crazy, eccentric, insane …M19 sl.
 
• OFF ONE’S CHUMP
adj. mad, eccentric, crazy, demented …1864 sl.
 
• OFF ONE’S COCONUT
adj. insane, crazy …19C
 
• OFF ONE’S CONK
adj. mad, crazy, eccentric, insane; demented  …1870 US sl.
 
• OFF ONE’S DIP
adj. L19 sl. – mad, crazy, eccentric, insane  
 
• OFF ONE’S DIPPER
adj. L19 sl. – mad, crazy, eccentric, insane
 
• OFF ONE’S DOT
adj. 1883 colloq. – out of one’s mind; crazy
 
• OFF ONE’S DOTTY
adj. L19 sl. – mad, eccentric, insane, crazy
 
• OFF ONE’S EATS
adj. 1965 Amer. dial. – unable to eat normally; slightly ill; indisposed  
 
• OFF ONE’S EGGS
adj. 1. 1792 Sc. – straying; hence, wide of the mark, incorrect, inaccurate, mistaken, in error  
adj. 2. 1922 Sc. – nervous or jumpy  
 
• OFF ONE’S FACE
adj. 1. 1960s sl. – crazy  
adj. 2. 1960s sl. – extremely enthusiastic about  
adj. 3. 1960s sl. – under the influence of drink or drugs; drunk; drug-intoxicated
 
• OFF ONE’S FEED
adj. 1. c1830 colloq. – having no appetite 
adj. 2. 1862 US sl. – not feeling or looking well; indisposed  
adj. 3. M19 sl. – depressed, miserable, nervous  
adj. 4. 1900s horse stable usage – incompetent, unskilled  
adj. 5. 1966 Amer. dial. – sulky, petulant  
 
• OFF ONE’S FODDER
adj. Bk1905 Eng. dial. – without appetite owing to a temporary or slight illness  
 
• OFF ONE’S FORM
adj. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – somewhat ill; indisposed  
 
• OFF ONE’S GOURD
adj. 1945 US sl. – crazy; deluded  
 
• OFF ONE’S HEAD
adj. 1. c1845 sl. – insane, crazy, demented 
adj. 2. 1960s sl. – drunk  
adj. 3. 1960s drug culture sl. – intoxicated by a drug  
 
• OFF ONE’S JUMP
adj. 1950s Irish sl. – crazy, insane  
 
• OFF ONE’S KADOOVA
adj. c1870 Aust. sl. – insane, crazy 
 
• OFF ONE’S KAZIP
adj. 1900s US sl. – insane, eccentric  
 
• OFF ONE’S KERBASE
adj. 1895 Amer. dial. – slightly crazy  
 
• OFF ONE’S KERZIP
adj. 1900s US sl. – insane, eccentric  
 
• OFF ONE’S KNACKERS
adj. 2000s sl. – insane, stupid  
 
• OFF ONE’S KNOCKER
adj. 1900s Aust. sl. – mad, insane, uncontrolled  
 
• OFF ONE’S KNOW
adj. Bk1905 Eng. dial. – out of one’s mind; forgetful from a failing memory  
 
• OFF ONE’S LID
adj. 1900s US sl. – mad  
 
• OFF ONE’S LOOP
adj. 1940s sl. – eccentric, mad  
 
• OFF ONE’S MEAT
adj. without appetite owing to a temporary or slight illness …Bk1905 Eng. dial.
 
• OFF ONE’S MENTAL RESERVATION
adj. insane, out of touch with reality …L19 US sl.
 
• OFF ONE’S NANA
adj. eccentric, mad …1940s sl.
 
• OFF ONE’S NANNY
adj. mad …L18 UK sl.
 
• OFF ONE’S NOB
adj. 1. eccentric, insane …1950s sl.
adj. 2. drunk …1950s sl.
 
• OFF ONE’S NOGGIN 
adj. insane …1842 Amer. sl.
 
• OFF ONE’S NOODLE
adj. crazy; deluded …1945 US sl.
 
• OFF ONE’S NUT
adj. 1. in a state of drunkenness or drug intoxication …1860 Brit. sl.
adj. 2. crazy; mad, insane, foolish, demented …1860 sl.
adj. 3. infatuated, very enthusiastic …M19 sl.
 
• OFF ONE’S OATS
adj. feeling unwell, esp. if this diminishes one’s appetite …L19 sl.
 
• OFF ONE’S ONION
adj. mad, crazy …1890 sl.
 
• OFF ONE’S ORDINARY
adj. not in one’s usual state of health …1891 Sc.
 
• OFF ONE’S OWN BAT
adj. acting independently …1845 sl.
 
• OFF ONE’S PANNICAN
adj. insane, crazy …20C Aust. sl.
 
• OFF ONE’S PANNIKIN
adj. mad, crazy …1894 sl., chiefly Aust.
 
• OFF ONE’S PLATE
adv. no longer a matter of one’s responsibility and concern …1980s US sl.
 
• OFF ONE’S PONY
adj. in a state of collapse from excessive drinking …1960s US sl.
 
• OFF ONE’S PULLEY
adj. insane, eccentric, mad, crazy …1990s sl.
 
• OFF ONE’S RAG
adj. in a furious temper; very angry …1990s UK juvenile sl.
 
• OFF ONE’S ROCK
adj. 1. crazy, insane, eccentric, mad …L19 sl.
adj. 2. acting excessively, although not necessarily madly …1950s sl.
 
• OFF ONE’S ROCKER
adj. 1. crazy, demented, deluded, mad…1897 sl.
adj. 2.  acting excessively, although not necessarily madly …1950s sl.
 
• OFF ONE’S ROCKET
adj. crazy, eccentric, mad …1910s sl.
 
• OFF ONE’S SAUCER
adj. 1. disinclined, dispirited, out of sorts …M19 Aust. sl.
adj. 2. mad, insane, eccentric, crazy …c1930 Aust. sl.
 
• OFF ONE’S STOMACH
adj. without appetite owing to a temporary or slight illness …Bk1905 Eng. dial.
 
• OFF ONE’S THATCH
adj. 1. insane, out of one’s mind …M19 sl.
adj. 2. drunk …1960s sl.
adj. 3. intoxicated by a drug …1960s drug culture sl.
 
• OFF ONE’S TILE
adj. 1. mad, angry …1910s Aust. sl.
adj. 2. insane, crazy …1959 Aust. sl.
 
• OFF ONE’S TOMMY
adj. without appetite owing to a temporary or slight illness …Bk1905 Eng. dial.
 
• OFF ONE’S TOP
adj. insane, crazy …20C Aust. sl.
 
• OFF ONE’S TOP TRAVERSE
adj. mad, insane, eccentric, crazy …20C Aust. sl.
 
• OFF ONE’S TROLLEY
adj. 1. crazy, eccentric …1896 sl.
adj. 2. physically unbalanced …1900s sl.
 
• OF-FOUGHT
adj. exhausted with fighting …c1320 obs.
 
• OFF-OX
n. a stubborn or headstrong person; an unmanageable, cross-grained fellow …1848 Amer. dial.
 
• OFF POLISH
adj. somewhat ill; indisposed …Bk1942 Amer. sl.
 
• OFF-PUT
adj. temporary, makeshift …1927 Sc.
n. 1. a delay; postponement; a pretense for delay, an evasion; a feint …1730 Sc. & Eng. dial.
n. 2. one who or that which delays, a procrastinator …1856 Sc.
n. 3. a makeshift; a hasty meal …1882
 
• OFF-PUTTEN
adj. dilatory, delaying, trifling …1892 Sc.
 
• OFF-PUTTING
adj. 1. distressing, unsettling, discomfiting; disturbing or disagreeable …1828
adj. 2. evasive, calculated to delay, playing for time, trifling …1880 Sc. & Eng. dial.
n. a putting off; delay, procrastination …1387
 
• OFFREDGE
n. the act of offering, or that which is offered; offering, sacrifice …1548 obs.
 
• OFFRIGHT
vb. 1. to frighten, to terrify …c1160 obs.
vb. 2. to be afraid …c1205 obs.
 
• OFF-ROAD
vb. to drive in deserts, mountains, forests, beaches, etc., away from roads …1990s US sl.
 
• OFFSCAPE
n. a distant view or prospect; the distant part of a view or prospect, the distance, the background …1711 now rare or obs.
 
• OFFSCOUR
vb. to scour off …1578 rare
 
• OFFSCOURING
n. 1. an outcast …1526
n. 2. the act of scouring off …1896 rare
 
• OFFSCOURINGS
n. filth or defilement cleaned off and cast aside; refuse, rubbish …1674
 
• OFF-SCROUT
n. offspring …Bk1905 Eng. dial.
 
• OFFSCUM
n. 1. scum, dross, refuse …1579
n. 2. that which is rejected as vile or worthless …1605
n. 3. (as ‘off-scum’) the rabble …1858 Eng. dial.
 
• OFFSET
n. 1. an ornament, embellishment, that which sets off or shows to advantage; the best of anything …1721 Sc.
n. 2. an excuse, pretense …1768 Sc.
n. 3. a hindrance, delay; a setback, anything that causes delay; an illness; the time wasted by any hindrance …1865 Sc.
n. 4. a commencement, start, outset …1892 Sc. & Eng. dial.
n. 5. (as ‘offset’) an outbuilding, esp. one used as a kitchen …1981 Amer. dial.
vb. to deceive or harm someone; to betray …1938 Amer. dial.
 
• OFFSHORE
adj. 1. crazy; silly; outlandish …1994 Amer. dial.
adj. 2. soundly sleeping …1994 Amer. dial.
adj. 3. foreign ..1997 US sl.
 
• OFFSIDE
adj. 1. in poor taste, socially unacceptable …1910s Aust. & NZ sl.
adj. 2. out of favour, in bad favour with …1910s Aust. & NZ sl.
n. (as ‘off-side’) the further or right side …Bk1905 Sc. & Eng. dial.
 
• OFF-SIDED
adj. offhand, casual …1885 Sc.
 
• OFFSIDER
n. an assistant, a helper; orig. and assistant/apprentice to a bullock-driver who worked on the ‘off side’ …1903 Aust. sl.
 
• OFFSKI
vb. to go away, to leave …2001 UK sl.
 
• OFF SONG
adj. not working well, in bad condition …L19 sl.
 
• OFF SOUNDINGS
adv. beyond one’s capabilities or knowledge …1849 Amer. dial.
 
• OFF-SPRIG
n. an offspring …1848 Ireland
 
• OFFSPRING
n. 1. an illegitimate child …1943 Amer. dial.
n. 2. a horse not intentionally bred, or bred by accident …1968 Amer. dial.
 
• OFF-SPROUT
n. an offspring …Bk1905 Eng. dial.
 
• OFF-START
n. a commencement, start, beginning, outset …1889 Eng. & Amer. dial.
vb. to begin, to commence …Bk1905 Eng. dial.
 
• OFFSTEERED
adj. enticed away from; sidetracked …20C sl.
 
• OFFTAKE
n. 1. that which is taken off; a deduction …1892
n. 2. (as ‘off-take’) a jeering or jesting remark …1900 Sc.
n. 3. (as ‘off-take’) one who exposes others to ridicule; a mimic, one who takes off others …Bk1905 Sc.
 
• OFF-TAKING
adj. 1. scoffing, mocking,  sarcastic, joking, waggish …1877 Sc.
n. 1. taking off, removal …1742 Sc.
n. 2. jeering, ridicule …1864 Sc.
 
• OFF TAP
adj. 1. acting in an unacceptable manner; hence, condemned to death …1990s Aust. sl.
adj. 2. eccentric, mad …1990s Aust. sl.
adj. 3. excellent …1990s US college sl.
 
• OFF THE ARM
adj. 1942 US sl. – impromptu, ‘off the cuff’; hence, at a price informally agreed upon
phr. 1950 US  sl., servers’ usage – served without a tray
 
• OFF THE BACK
adj. surreptitious, on the side …1990s sl.
 
• OFF THE BEAM
adj. 1. crazy, eccentric …1941 sl., orig. US
adv. distant from the truth or accuracy; wholly incorrect; in error …1940s US sl.
 
• OFF THE BOARDS
adv. excessively, to a great extent …L19 US sl.
 
• OFF THE CHAIN
adj. free, unrestrained or unrestricted …20C sl., orig. Aust.
 
• OFF THE COB
adj. 1. backwards …1930s US sl.
adj. 2. poor …1930s US sl.
adj. 3. unfashionable, out of style …1930s US sl.
 
• OFF-THE-CUFF
adj. with little or no preparation; extemporaneous; impromptu …1940
 
• OFF THE DOME
adj. of rap lyrics: spontaneous, composed as one goes along …1980s African-American sl.
 
• OFF THE HINGES
adj. disorderly; in confusion …Bk1942 Amer. sl.
 
• OFF THE HOOK
adj. 1. ill-tempered, peevish, in a state …M17 sl.
adj. 2. ceasing to take narcotics …1930s US drug culture sl.
adj. 3. out of trouble, freed from a difficult situation, pardoned, released …1950s sl.
adj. 4. completely unacceptable, crazy, out of control …1990s US sl.
adj. 5. very good, so good as to transcend description …1990s African-American & teen sl.
adj. 6. in rap music: wonderful; exciting; impressive …1996 Amer. sl.
 
• OFF THE HOOKS
adj. 1. in a state of madness or intense excitement; crazy, angry, or vexed; in an ill mood or out of  humour …1612 sl.
adj. 2. dead …1840 sl.
adj. 3. somewhat ill; indisposed; unwell, ailing …Bk1905 Eng. dial.
adj. 4. shabby, worn out …Bk1905 Eng. dial.
adj. 5. disorderly; in confusion …Bk1942 Amer. sl.
adv. 1. excessively …L17 sl.
adv. 2. at once, instantly …M19 sl.
 
• OFF THE MEAT RACK
adj. superlative, first-rate, astonishing, excellent …2000s African-American sl.
 
• OFF THE NAIL
adj. not quite sober; tipsy; drunk …1822 colloq.
 
• OFF THE NUT
adj. free from debt …1930s US sl.
 
• OFF THE RAILS
adj. 1. emotionally unstable …M19 sl.
adj. 2. errant, mistaken …L19 sl.
 
• OFF THE REEL
adj. at rest …1873 Sc.
phr. in succession; right off …1883 sl.
 
• OFF THE RESERVATION
adj. 1. absent, away …L19 US sl.
adj. 2. drunk …1930s sl.
 
• OFF THE ROOF
adj. of a woman: menstruating …1954 Amer. dial.
 
• OFF THE SIDE
adj. insane, mad …1877 Eng. dial.
 
• OFF THE STEEL
adj. not engaged in railway work …1977 US sl.
 
• OFF THE STICK END
adj. direct, straight away …1875 Eng. dial.
 
• OFF THE STONES
adj. 1. off the city pavement, out of the town …a1845 obs.
adj. 2. outside London …M19 sl.
 
• OFF THE STRING
adj. free, unrestrained or unrestricted …20C sl., orig. Aust.
 
• OFF THE TOP
adv. from the beginning, immediately …1990s US sl.
 
• OFF THE TOP OF THE DOME
adj. of rap lyrics: spontaneous, composing lyrics as you go along; usually as ‘coming (or going) off  the top of the dome’ …1980s African-American sl.
 
• OFF THE TRACK
adj. misbehaving, making mistakes, being inconsistent …20C sl.
 
• OFF THE TURN
adj. ceasing to swing …1895 Sc.
 
• OFF THE WALL
adj. 1. odd, eccentric, bizarre, unusual; crazy; obnoxious, offensive, pointless …1937 US sl.
adj. 2. difficult, obstreperous, strange …1950s sl., orig. US
adj. 3. excellent, first-rate …1950s US college sl.
adj. 4. unimportant, uninteresting …1950s African-American sl.
adv. spontaneously, unconventionally …1970s US sl.
 
• OFF-TIME
adj. 1. badly timed, at the wrong time, hence unacceptable, unsatisfactory …1938 US jazz sl.
adj. 2. unfashionable …1930s US sl.
 
• OFF-TIME JIVE
n. a weak excuse …1930s African-American sl.
 
• OFF TO ANOTHER NASA CONVENTION
phr. used for humour when someone who has been displaying their ignorance leaves a room …1991 US sl.
 
• OFF TONE
adj. somewhat ill; indisposed …Bk1942 Amer. sl.
 
• OFF TRACK
adj. misbehaving, making mistakes, being inconsistent …20C sl.
 
• OFF-TRAIL
adj. unconventional, eccentric …1954 US sl.
 
• OFFUSC
adj. dark, dusky …1849 obs. rare
 
• OFFUSCATE
adj. darkened, obscured …1603 rare
vb. 1. darken the understanding of a person; to stupefy, to bewilder …1632 rare
vb. 2. to darken, to obscure (physically); to deprive of light or brightness; to make dark or dusky …1656 rare
 
• OFFUSCATION
n. a darkening, obscuration …1502 rare
 
• OFFUSQUE
vb. to darken, to obscure …a1751 obs. rare
 
• OFFWARD
adj. turned or directed off or away; averse …1563 obs.
adv. 1. in a direction or position off or away from something …1600
adv. 2. to the right or off side …1863 Eng. dial.
 
• OFFWARDNESS
n. the state of being turned away; averseness, aversion …1600 obs.
 
• OFFWARDS
adv. in a direction or position off or away from something …1692 rare
 
• OFF WITH YOU!
int. be off! …1809
 
• OFFY
n. 1. a privy, a dry closet …1841 Sc.
n. 2. an off-license; orig. a counter in a public house over which alcohol could be sold for consumption off the premises …1950s sl.
 
• OFF YOUR CAKE
adj. confused; drug-intoxicated …L20 sl.
 
• OFF YOUR NANA
adj. crazy, insane …1966 Aust. sl.
 
• OFF YOUR OATS
phr. off your food …1890 UK sl.