off-microphoneadj.adv.
/ˈɒfˌmʌɪkrəfəʊn/, /ˌɒfˈmʌɪkrəfəʊn/, U.S. /ˈɔfˈmaɪkrəˌfoʊn/, /ˈɑfˈmaɪkrəˌfoʊn/ Now rare.
A. adj.
Not speaking or performing into a microphone; = off-mike adj.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > audibility > sound magnification or reproduction > [adjective] > microphone > away from microphone
off-mike1937
off-microphone1940
1940 A. Oboler Fourteen Radio Plays 257 Dialogue or effect is off-microphone, in other words, not all full volume in relation to other speeches or effects.
1941 H. K. Clurman et al. Producing the Play 513 The woman's words must be read from an ‘off microphone’ position, and the man's words continue to be projected to her ‘on microphone’.
1962 Times 3 Apr. 15/2 Goonery is not the most evident attribute of his off-microphone personality.
1962 A. Nisbett Technique Sound Studio ii. 48 Off-microphone voices and spot effects could be blended with on-microphone voices.
1992 Independent (Nexis) 6 Jan. 17 His celebrated off-microphone joke about lesbians.
B. adv.
Away from a microphone; = off-mike adv.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > degree, kind, or quality of sound > faintness or weakness > [adverb] > off-microphone
off-mike1937
off-microphone1941
1941 H. K. Clurman et al. Producing the Play 513 When the woman says: ‘I shall leave this room,’ obviously she will go ‘off microphone’.
1962 A. Nisbett Technique Sound Studio ii. 40 The pages should be turned well off-microphone.
1991 Star Tribune (Minneapolis) (Nexis) 12 Nov. 4 b She was able to operate off-microphone.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2004; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.adv.1940