off the record

/ˈɒf ðə ɹˈɛkɔːd/

/ˈɔf ðə ɹˈɛkɚd/

off the record

used of a statement, remark, or piece of information that is not intended for public knowledge, or not to be attributed to the person making it

What is the origin of the idiom "off the record" and when to use it?

The origin of the idiom "off the record" can be traced back to the field of journalism. It is believed to have emerged in the late 19th or early 20th century as a way for reporters and sources to have confidential conversations without the information being published or attributed. The phrase is rooted in the idea that certain information shared "off the record" is off-limits for public consumption and should be treated as strictly confidential. Over time, the usage of "off the record" has expanded beyond journalism and is now commonly employed in various contexts where confidentiality is desired, such as in legal proceedings or informal conversations.

Examples

1. If you were speaking to them off the record then you'd detect a much more significant amount of concern.

2. And literally, you had statements, people on and off the record, coming out saying, oh, no, it's fine.

3. So you're going to read and learn about how in the middle of November 1941 Marshall calls a press conference and its a secret press conference and needs to be off the record and he's going to get the press ready for war that's coming.

4. but I couldn't tell anybody because my interview that led me to conclude that was off the record

Nearby words