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 Bundy family’s statement noted this and said their destination was not clandestine, as the FBI document alleged.—
Nicole Blanchard,
Idaho Statesman,
7 Sep. 2025
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The result was the Commandos, who operated in clandestine raids behind the lines to harass the enemy with remarkable success.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
7 Sep. 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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The notion of a man of Ballmer’s wealth — $153 billion; most in professional sports and top 10 on the planet — being able to procure and retain elite talent through surreptitious ways is the worst nightmare for fans of the league’s other 29 teams.—
Sam Amick,
New York Times,
11 Sep. 2025
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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
Adjective
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Cameron Crowe researched what would become his debut script by going undercover as a high school student for a full year in what can only be described as a 21 Jump Street stunt.—
Paul Fitzgerald,
Rolling Stone,
8 Sep. 2025
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Further, this legislation is unnecessary if it is truly intended to apply to undercover officers.—
Charles Champion,
Oc Register,
8 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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Moreover, the lobster boat and the Mako were covert FBI assets carefully disguised as legitimate smuggling vessels.—
Martin Suarez,
Rolling Stone,
13 Sep. 2025
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If compromised, malicious radios inside them could be used for simultaneous outages or covert data collection, the FHWA warned.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The executives were able to meet with Pope Leo in a private audience that included others, according to a person familiar with the matter.—
Brian Steinberg,
Variety,
12 Sep. 2025
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This is the web version of Term Sheet, a daily newsletter on the biggest deals and dealmakers in venture capital and private equity.—
Allie Garfinkle,
Fortune,
12 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Off-the-books.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/off-the-books. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
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