off-the-record
off-the-record — idiom
1. used when a speaker shares information only on the understanding that it must st
used when a speaker shares information only on the understanding that it must stay out of news reports or public quotation
After the press conference, Karim spoke off-the-record about the cabinet dispute.
speak off-the-record after a formal public event
The coach agreed to talk off-the-record while the microphones were packed away.
talk off-the-record in a media setting
Yan warned the reporter that the next answer was strictly off-the-record.
During lunch, Owen went off-the-record and explained why the merger stalled.
Ishaan asked whether the source was speaking off-the-record before taking notes.
- confidentially
broader and not limited to comments given to journalists
- privately
less specific; can describe any private conversation, even outside reporting contexts
- not for attribution
journalism term focusing on hiding the speaker's name rather than banning publication entirely
- on the record
openly available to be quoted and publicly reported
文法句型
say something off-the-record
speak off-the-record
go off-the-record
用法筆記
Usually follows verbs such as say, tell, speak, or go. Strongly tied to journalism and politics, where the speaker allows the information to be heard but not printed or broadcast.
常見錯誤
off-the-record — adjective
1. describing a comment, meeting, or piece of information shared privately with the
describing a comment, meeting, or piece of information shared privately with the expectation that it will not appear in print, broadcast, or any public report
The editor removed two off-the-record remarks before printing the interview.
off-the-record + remarks in publishing context
A late off-the-record briefing helped senators understand the security risk.
off-the-record briefing as a noun phrase
Gabriel received an off-the-record tip from a civil servant after midnight.
The channel refused to quote the minister's off-the-record comments on air.
Reporters compared their off-the-record notes once the doors were closed.
- confidential
broader and used for many kinds of private information, not only media-sensitive remarks
- private
more general; does not specifically imply a ban on publication
- unofficial
can mean not formally approved, even when secrecy is not the main point
- public
open for anyone to hear, quote, or report
- publishable
suitable to appear in print or broadcast
文法句型
an off-the-record comment
an off-the-record briefing
off-the-record remarks
用法筆記
Usually comes before nouns such as comment, briefing, remark, talk, or tip. It labels the information itself, unlike the idiom sense, which describes how a person speaks.