off the record
Preserved but no longer current.
Originally a legal term, where- by a judge directs that improper or irrevelant evidence shall be struck off the record. This since became commonly synonymous with in confidence, an unofficial expression of views.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “off the record” mean?
Originally a legal term, where- by a judge directs that improper or irrevelant evidence shall be struck off the record. This since became commonly synonymous with in confidence, an unofficial expression of views.
Is “off the record” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.