offhand
adjective /ɒfˈhand 
/ /ˈɒfhand /
/ /ˈɒfhand /Ungraciously or offensively nonchalant or cool in manner: you were a bit offhand with her this afternoon...
- He'd said it in such an offhand and nonchalant manner, though, that I decided to let it drop.
- Now, you can do this in an offhand manner, casually noting results, but you'll be much further ahead if you do it somewhat scientifically.
- I learned it from someone who formerly worked in the government and he mentioned it in an offhand manner, leading me to infer it was something that insiders were well aware of.
Synonyms
indifferent, casual, careless, uninterested, unconcerned, cool, distant, aloof, nonchalant, blasé, insouciant, offhanded, cavalier, glib, perfunctory, cursory, unceremonious, ungracious, curt, abrupt, terse, brusque, dismissive, discourteous, uncivil, impolite, rude;
impromptu, off-the-cuff, spontaneous, extempore, unpremeditated, extemporaneous, unthinking, unstudied
informal off, offish, couldn't-care-less, take-it-or-leave-it
rare pococurante
adverb /ɒfˈhand /
/Without previous thought or consideration: I can’t think of a better answer offhand...
- I can't remember the name of the actress who played Nan offhand and don't have time to look it up.
- I don't recall offhand the names of any of the other sources.
- I'm sure there must be a reason why Dean's comment is different, but offhand I can't think what it is.
Synonyms
without preparation, on the spur of the moment, without consideration, without checking, extempore, impromptu, ad lib;
extemporaneously, without rehearsal, spontaneously;
Latin ad libitum
informal off the cuff, off the top of one's head, just like that, at the drop of a hat
Derivatives
offhanded
- ‘Whatever,’ I dismissed him in an offhanded manner.
- However, while the ideas expressed in these interviews may lack the benefits of hindsight, they do not come across as offhanded or unstudied.
- I quaked a little when I heard that, but he said it in such a casual, almost offhanded way, he made it seem possible.
offhandedly
/ adverb ...- I perhaps dismissed it too offhandedly, arguing that the viewer stats have gone up and stayed up through the summer (a season when they usually tail off).
- ‘Pretty,’ he acknowledged offhandedly, turning to head off, but something drew his eye back to the page.
- Lessig treats this opposing view rather offhandedly, a serious flaw in an otherwise excellent book.
offhandedness
/ noun ...- Many of the best gags here are throwaway ones, delivered with an offhandedness that makes them work.
- His fathering style, interestingly, was not much different from his writing style, which is to say, excellence disguised as offhandedness.
- Throughout the photos shown there is an offhandedness that only a master can effect, but his display of nonchalance is gracious and at times humorous.