off the wall

1 of 2

phrase

slang : highly unusual : bizarre

The plan was off the wall.

off-the-wall

2 of 2

adjective

ˈȯf-ṯẖə-ˈwȯl 

: highly unusual : bizarre

an off-the-wall sense of humor

Synonyms of off the wall

Adjective

• bizarre
• funny
• strange
• weird
• odd
• peculiar
• curious
• erratic
• eccentric
• crazy
• unusual
• remarkable

Examples of off the wall in a Sentence

Adjective

she does have some off-the-wall suggestions about home decorating

Recent Examples on the Web

Phrase

In the eighth, with one out, Will Smith cut out the middle man by doubling into the right-field corner and advancing to third when Milwaukee’s Sal Frelick misplayed the carom off the wall. — Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026

Guests have reported footsteps in the attic, the feeling of someone stroking their face, a shower rode repeatedly flying off the wall and loud noises from outside the front door when no one is there. — Kaitlyn Keegan, Hartford Courant, 25 Sep. 2026

Adjective

The internet has provided alternative comedy fans with a multitude of other opportunities to consume off-the-wall humor at any hour of the day. — Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 10 Sep. 2026

The latter, in particular, stands out as the record’s most far-reaching track, landing somewhere between the original’s energetic breakcore, umru’s off-the-wall pop maximalism, and username’s new age footwork. — Benny Sun, Pitchfork, 17 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1953, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for off the wall

• aerosol
• alcohol
• arbitral
• basketball
• butanol
• cannonball
• carbinol
• cortisol
• ethanol
• fireball
• gasohol
• gossypol

Kids Definition

off-the-wall

adjective

: very unusual : bizarre