off the wall

1 of 2

phrase

slang : highly unusual : bizarre
The plan was off the wall.

off-the-wall

2 of 2

adjective

: highly unusual : bizarre
an off-the-wall sense of humor

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
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Adjective
Ted coaches a women's soccer team and probably has a lot of sage, off-the-wall wisdom for his new players. Brian Truitt, USA Today, 30 Jan. 2026 The important part is the motivational energy of his speech, and Arteta is using a prop and an off-the-wall topic just as a point of difference, to keep their attention: one of the biggest problems managers have is trying to keep the message fresh, and not have people start switching off mentally. Nick Miller, New York Times, 24 Jan. 2026 An inside, off-the-wall slant on independent filmmaking, this dark and daffy movie — the Grand Jury Prize winner in the Dramatic Competition — should be a winner on the art-house circuit but seems unlikely to crack into mainstream venues. Duane Byrge, HollywoodReporter, 13 Jan. 2026 What to look for in a quality ‘Rick and Morty’ hoodie Wild graphics The show is known for its off-the-wall animation style and eccentric characters. Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 12 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for off the wall

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1953, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of off the wall was in 1953

Browse Nearby Words

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Cite this Entry

“Off the wall.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/off%20the%20wall. Accessed 10 Feb. 2026.

Kids Definition

off-the-wall

adjective
: very unusual : bizarre
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