off-the-peg

IPA/ˌɒf.ðəˈpeɡ/
IPA/ˌɑːf.ðəˈpeɡ/

off-the-peg — adjective

1. Off-the-peg garments are factory-made in ordinary sizes that fit most people and

1.adjectiveB2
Definition

Off-the-peg garments are factory-made in ordinary sizes that fit most people and can be taken home from a shop straight away, unlike clothes that are cut and sewn for a specific person.

Example

Gabriel bought an off-the-peg suit from a department store for his job interview.

attributive: off-the-peg + noun (suit)

The jacket was off-the-peg, so the sleeves were a little too short for Amihan.

predicative: be + off-the-peg

Common collocations
  • off-the-peg suit
  • off-the-peg clothes
  • off-the-peg jacket
  • off-the-peg dress
  • off-the-peg shirt
  • buy off-the-peg
  • wear off-the-peg
Synonyms
  • ready-made

    more general; can apply to curtains, furniture, etc., not just clothes

  • off-the-rack

    the standard American English equivalent; much more common in the US

  • ready-to-wear

    slightly more formal; used especially in the fashion industry

Antonyms
  • tailor-made

    made specially for one person by a tailor

  • bespoke

    British English term for custom-made clothing, especially suits

  • custom-made

    made to a specific customer's requirements

Grammar Patterns

off-the-peg + noun (e.g. off-the-peg suit)

be + off-the-peg

Usage Note

Chiefly British English. In American English the equivalent term is 'off-the-rack'. Unlike 'bespoke' or 'tailor-made', off-the-peg clothing is not adjusted to the wearer's exact body shape before purchase.

Common Mistakes

I bought an off-the-peg custom-made dress.
I bought an off-the-peg dress.
'off-the-peg' and 'custom-made' are opposites; do not use them together.
This shop sells off-the-peg pizzas.
This shop sells standard pizzas.
'off-the-peg' is only used for clothing, not food or other products.

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All three words describe clothing that is not custom-fitted. 'Off-the-peg' is primarily British; outside the UK many learners will hear 'off-the-rack' instead. 'Ready-made' is the broadest term — it applies to non-clothing items such as curtains, meals, or furniture as well. 'Ready-to-wear' is used in the fashion industry for collections produced in standard sizes and sold in stores, and carries a slightly more professional or polished tone. For everyday shopping, 'off-the-peg' and 'off-the-rack' are the most natural choices. A British speaker might say 'I grabbed an off-the-peg jacket from Marks & Spencer,' while an American speaker would say 'I grabbed an off-the-rack jacket from the mall.'

ready-made ↗off-the-rack ↗ready-to-wear

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • buy something off-the-peg
  • available off-the-peg
  • off-the-peg clothing

Etymology

English

This compound adjective comes from the earlier adverbial phrase 'off the peg', which referred to a ready-made garment hanging on a shop peg or hook — as opposed to fabric that a tailor would cut and sew. The phrase became common in British English during the 1800s as mass-produced clothing grew widespread, and the hyphenated adjective form appeared by the early 1900s.

First known use

1959

1959, in the meaning defined above