as in off-the-record
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Recent Examples of off-the-books
Whoops: Dozens die south of the border when Joe leads an off-the-books attack on human traffickers.
—
Hugh Hart, Los Angeles Times, 17 June 2025
Few films are more overt in their 1980s-ness than the original Predator, which saw rising star Arnold Schwarzenegger playing Dutch, the leader of an elite, off-the-books team of commandos who go into Central America only to come face-to-face with an interstellar killing machine.
—Will Leitch, Vulture, 9 June 2025
In 1743, Keith was sent to Fleet Prison for his off-the-books activities.
—Alexandra Cox, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 Mar. 2025
An off-the-books e-bike battery repair shop in the basement of a Queens home sparked a massive Friday morning blaze that left a firefighter and three building residents hospitalized, FDNY officials said.
—Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 24 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for off-the-books
Hugh Hart, Los Angeles Times, 17 June 2025
Few films are more overt in their 1980s-ness than the original Predator, which saw rising star Arnold Schwarzenegger playing Dutch, the leader of an elite, off-the-books team of commandos who go into Central America only to come face-to-face with an interstellar killing machine.
—Will Leitch, Vulture, 9 June 2025
In 1743, Keith was sent to Fleet Prison for his off-the-books activities.
—Alexandra Cox, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 Mar. 2025
An off-the-books e-bike battery repair shop in the basement of a Queens home sparked a massive Friday morning blaze that left a firefighter and three building residents hospitalized, FDNY officials said.
—Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 24 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for off-the-books
Recent Examples of Synonyms for off-the-books
Adjective
-
The following account is based on Bloomberg reporting over nearly two years, including on- and off-the-record conversations with more than two dozen analysts, fund managers, traders and current and former company employees.—
Orianna Rosa Royle,
Fortune,
20 July 2025
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Details are classified for now, though this reporter was promised an off-the-record reveal at AIFF’s rooftop soiree.—
Essie Assibu,
Variety,
15 July 2025
Adjective
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The position of chief judge, currently held by Timothy Evans, will instead be determined by an election held behind closed doors during a clandestine voting process in which fellow judges cast their secret ballots.—
Paul Vallas,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Aug. 2025
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Journaling, secret crushes and clandestine affairs take precedence.—
Valerie Mesa,
People.com,
25 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Rubio, who is also Trump’s national security adviser, was one of three U.S. officials to participate in a closed-door meeting with the Russian delegation on Friday in Alaska.—
Alexis Simendinger,
The Hill,
20 Aug. 2025
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The revelation was made by House Oversight Committee Chairman Rep. James Comer (R-KY) after Barr testified in a closed-door interview during the House Oversight Committee’s investigation of the federal government’s handling of Epstein’s case.—
Washington Examiner Staff,
The Washington Examiner,
19 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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When one fan posted a surreptitious photo of Sudeikis and Hunt hanging out at a bar, commenters warned them to not share the location.—
Lisa Gutierrez,
Kansas City Star,
1 Aug. 2025
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These, though, have generally either been surreptitious efforts or ones that the White House has attempted strenuously to legally justify.—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
1 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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In it, Super Bowl-winning quarterback Eli Manning goes undercover in heavy prosthetics and a wig and dons the alias Chad Powers to try out as a walk-on quarterback for Penn State football.—
Lauren Huff,
Entertainment Weekly,
4 Sep. 2025
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Senate Bill 627, for example, would prohibit law enforcement agents from covering their faces to obscure their identity, carving out exceptions for SWAT teams and undercover officers.—
Barnini Chakraborty,
The Washington Examiner,
3 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The summit marked the culmination of several months of back-channel diplomacy.—
Katya Soldak,
Forbes.com,
19 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Woman of the Hour In her directorial debut, Anna Kendrick stars as aspiring actress Sheryl Bradshaw, who unknowingly crosses paths with a covert serial killer (Daniel Zovatto) while appearing on The Dating Game.—
Jacqueline Weiss,
PEOPLE,
7 Sep. 2025
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That provision allows a president to take covert actions as long as Congress is informed.—
Emily Goodin,
Miami Herald,
5 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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In some states where there is no anonymity for individual winners, people can still claim prizes anonymously through private trusts.—
Safiyah Riddle,
Chicago Tribune,
6 Sep. 2025
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But the new private terminal is winning their support, with the backing of historians and preservationists who have been fighting to maintain South Florida’s aviation legacy in a region known for tearing down buildings.—
Vinod Sreeharsha,
Miami Herald,
6 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Off-the-books.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/off-the-books. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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