as in off-the-record
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Recent Examples of off-the-books
Helen wants him for an off-the-books quest to find a possibly mythical object called the Seven Five Two, and an even more off-the-books quest to find answers about a formative childhood trauma involving the Talamasca.
—
Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 24 Oct. 2025
Aishe is an undocumented immigrant from China’s Uyghur minority, scraping by doing off-the-books jobs in the Flushing neighborhood of Queens.
—Peter Larsen, Daily News, 3 Sep. 2025
Scott got his first paying job at age 11, an off-the-books gig at A Bicycle Odyssey, a bike shop in Sausalito, California, frequented by the likes of Robin Williams, members of the band The Grateful Dead and Huey Lewis.
—Brenda Goodman, CNN Money, 20 Aug. 2025
In the 2021 film, Odenkirk (Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul) stars as Hutch Mansell, a by-the-numbers working stiff who harbors a secret past as an off-the-books government assassin.
—Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 16 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for off-the-books
Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 24 Oct. 2025
Aishe is an undocumented immigrant from China’s Uyghur minority, scraping by doing off-the-books jobs in the Flushing neighborhood of Queens.
—Peter Larsen, Daily News, 3 Sep. 2025
Scott got his first paying job at age 11, an off-the-books gig at A Bicycle Odyssey, a bike shop in Sausalito, California, frequented by the likes of Robin Williams, members of the band The Grateful Dead and Huey Lewis.
—Brenda Goodman, CNN Money, 20 Aug. 2025
In the 2021 film, Odenkirk (Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul) stars as Hutch Mansell, a by-the-numbers working stiff who harbors a secret past as an off-the-books government assassin.
—Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 16 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for off-the-books
Recent Examples of Synonyms for off-the-books
Adjective
-
But through time, trust and many off-the-record conversations, those six people helped create a foundation that would eventually lead them to the CEOs.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
24 Mar. 2026
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The 21-page agreement prohibits the gathering or publication of any information that is not authorized by the government, including declassified information and off-the-record conversations, whether obtained on or off Pentagon grounds.—
Gary Grumbach,
NBC news,
5 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Manson uncovers evidence of two clandestine killer-robot programs, one aerial and the other aquatic, which are being developed in haste.—
Gideon Lewis-Kraus,
New Yorker,
15 Apr. 2026
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This biopic — which Cooper also directed and co-wrote — centers on the complex relationship between Bernstein and his wife, the Costa Rican-Chilean actress Felicia Montealegre (Carey Mulligan), while also exploring his clandestine affairs with men.—
James Mercadante,
Entertainment Weekly,
12 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
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
-
Over the following 12 days, investigators determined that Lulinski had used his cell phone on multiple occasions to take inappropriate and surreptitious photos or videos of minors during normal school activities.—
CBS Atlanta Digital Team,
CBS News,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Remember, this is Augusta National, where the surreptitious use of a cellphone is grounds for immediate banishment.—
Anthony Crupi,
Sportico.com,
10 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Horrified by the secrets revealed by Bateman, Christine Marie and Katas were emboldened to go undercover as amateur sleuths.—
Liam Quinn,
PEOPLE,
9 Apr. 2026
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The arrest follows an undercover investigation by CNN into online networks of men teaching each other how to drug and rape their partners.—
Saskya Vandoorne,
CNN Money,
9 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Epstein, the records show, tried to initiate a back-channel meeting between the Saudi crown prince and Qatar’s ex-prime minister.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
8 Apr. 2026
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Both the president’s team and the rule-of-law defenders launched back-channel negotiations with the capitalists.—
Michael Scherer,
The Atlantic,
22 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Other such discrimination is more covert.—
Alison Somin,
Oc Register,
10 Apr. 2026
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The hypoallergenic, 100-percent cotton fabric provides a breathable option for covert breastfeeding.—
Pamela Brill,
Parents,
7 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Your 12th House of Silence hosts ambitious Mars, who’s cheering on Pluto in your 10th House of Audiences, turning private prep into public credibility without draining you.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
16 Apr. 2026
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State officials have approved a private initiative to transport the whale back to the North Sea and possibly further to the Atlantic.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
16 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Off-the-books.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/off-the-books. Accessed 19 Apr. 2026.
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