What does the phrase off the cuff mean?
off the cuff. If you speak off the cuff, you say something without having prepared or thought about your words first: I hadn't prepared a speech so I just said a few words off the cuff. [ before noun ] an off-the-cuff remark. Immediately. (dictionary.cambridge.org)
Where does off the cuff come from?
Off the cuff "extemporaneously" is 1938 American English colloquial, suggesting an actor or speaker reading from notes jotted on his shirt sleeves rather than learned lines. It's fairly common for students today to write notes on their hands or wrists. (english.stackexchange.com)
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