See main entry: off-the-record

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

ˌoff-the-ˈrecord , off the record adjective
an off-the-record remark is unofficial and is not supposed to be made public:
The Prime Minister’s remarks were strictly off the record.
—off the record adverb

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

off the record
if you say something off the record, you do not want it to be publicly reported.
She made it clear that her comments were strictly off the record and should not be included in the article.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

off-the-record
off the record - if you say something off the record, you do not want it to be publicly reported.
It's not a good idea to make these off-the-record remarks too often.
(always before noun)

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

off the record
to be not published or revealed, to be a secret; to be private, to be unofficial, informal
I told my boss off the record that I would probably not return after the summer holiday.

He told the reporters off the record about the problem with the budget estimate.

The judge told the lawyers off the record what they could expect the lawsuit to settle for.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

off the record
off the record¹ adv. phr. Confidentially.
"Off the record," the boss said, "you will get a good raise for next year, but you'll have to wait for the official letter."
Antonym: ON RECORD, GO ON RECORD, JUST FOR THE RECORD.
off the record² adj. phr. Not to be published or told; secret; confidential.
The president told the reporters his remarks were strictly off the record.
■ Sometimes used with hyphens, before the noun.
The governor was angry when a newspaper printed his off-the-record comments.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲