off-the-rack

/ˈȯf-ṯẖə-ˈrak/ (ame, mw)

off-the-rack — adjective

1. describing clothes that are mass-produced in regular size ranges to be bought di

1.形容詞C1
釋義

describing clothes that are mass-produced in regular size ranges to be bought directly from a shop, rather than tailored for one person's body.

例句

Diego wore an off-the-rack suit to the wedding because tailoring was too expensive.

attributive: off-the-rack + noun (suit / shirt / dress)

Most of the dresses in this department store are off-the-rack rather than custom-made.

predicative: subject + be + off-the-rack

同義詞
  • off-the-peg

    British English equivalent; same meaning, different region.

  • ready-made

    neutral and broader; covers clothing and other goods sold finished.

  • ready-to-wear

    fashion-industry term; often implies designer mass-market lines.

  • store-bought

    informal; emphasises 'not homemade' more than 'standard size'.

反義詞
  • bespoke

    formal British; clothing crafted to a customer's measurements.

  • tailor-made

    made by a tailor to fit one specific person.

  • custom-made

    general; produced to a buyer's specifications.

  • made-to-measure

    between off-the-rack and bespoke; adjusted from a base pattern.

文法句型

off-the-rack + noun (clothing item)

用法筆記

Mainly American English; British English uses 'off-the-peg' for the same idea. Often contrasted with 'bespoke', 'tailor-made', or 'made-to-measure'. Can be used attributively (before a noun) or predicatively (after a linking verb).

常見錯誤

❌I bought an off-the-rack from the store.
✅I bought an off-the-rack suit from the store.
💡'off-the-rack' is an adjective; it needs a noun like 'suit', 'dress', or 'shirt' after it.
❌These shoes are off-the-rack made.
✅These shoes are off-the-rack.
💡don't add 'made'; the word already means ready-to-wear.