off the horn
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
A term used in reference to very hard steak, which is fancifully said to be OFF THE HORN.
Era: ca. 1874 (Victorian)
Where it’s used:
Origin
British & Irish English
Sources & notes
Historical definition reproduced from Hotten’s The Slang Dictionary (1874, public domain; Project Gutenberg #42108, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “off the horn” mean?
A term used in reference to very hard steak, which is fancifully said to be OFF THE HORN.
Is “off the horn” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.