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
This was not a year for major turmoil in March or crazy off-the-wall selections by the committee. Tim Cowlishaw, Dallas Morning News, 15 Mar. 2026 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 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 The video projections, costumes and lighting give evidence of many, many imaginations working overtime to find the perfect effect or the most off-the-wall design. Joshua Kosman, San Francisco Chronicle, 15 Nov. 2025 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

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Off the wall.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/off%20the%20wall. Accessed 23 Mar. 2026.

Kids Definition

off-the-wall

adjective
: very unusual : bizarre
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