B2idiomcommunicationIELTS-friendly
off the record
USUK
said privately and not meant to be reported or repeated officially
From journalism. The opposite is 'on the record' (officially, and can be quoted).
In context
Off the record, the manager admitted the project was months behind schedule.
The official spoke to the journalist off the record about the new policy.
More idioms about communication
- a bone of contentiona subject that people keep arguing about
- a broken recordsomeone who keeps repeating the same thing in an annoying way
- a heart-to-heartan honest, private conversation about personal feelings
- a moot pointUK: a question still open to argument. US: a question that no longer matters in practice.
- a red herringa fact or idea that takes attention away from the real issue