off the beam
Of an airplane: not in the radio beam that marks the path to follow between airports; flying in the wrong direction.
A radio signal tells the pilot of an airplane when his plane is off the beam.
Wrong; mistaken.
Maud was off the beam when she said that the girls didn't like her.
off the beaten track
Not well known or often used; not gone to or seen by many people; unusual.
The theater is off the beaten track.
We are looking for a vacation spot that is off the beaten track.
off the cuff
off-the-cuff
Without preparing ahead of time what you will, say; without preparation.
Some presidents like to speak off the cuff to newspaper reporters but others prefer to think questions over and write their answers.
Not prepared ahead of time. Used of a speech or remarks.
Jack was made master of ceremonies because he was a good off-the-cuff speaker.
off the hook
get off the hook
Out of trouble; out of an awkward or embarrassing situation.
Thelma found she had made two dates for the same night; she asked Sally to get her off the hook by going out with one of the boys.
off the record
Confidentially. Not to be published or told; secret; confidential. Sometimes used with hyphens, before the noun.
Конфиденциально, по секрету.
"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."
My comment was made off the record, and shouldn't have been published.
Мой комментарий был не для прессы, и не должен был быть опубликован.
The president told the reporters his remarks were strictly off the record.
The governor was angry when a newspaper printed his off-the-record comments.
off the top of one's head
Without thinking hard; quickly.
Без раздумий, быстро, навскидку, первое что приходит в голову.
Vin answered the teacher's question off the top of his head.
When Lorraine was asked to recite, she talked off the top of her head.
Can you, off the top of your head, name any of your favorite rock songs?
Ты можешь навскидку назвать какую-нибудь из своих любимых рок-песен?
off the wagon
No longer refusing to drink whiskey or other alcoholic beverages; drinking liquor again, after stopping for a while.
When a heavy drinker quits he must really quit. One little drink of whiskey is enough to drive him off the wagon.
off the wall
off-the-wall
Strange; out of the ordinary; stupid.
He has been making off-the-wall remarks all day; something must he the matter with him.