off the wall
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off the wall
Strange, wacky, or unusual. Her hypothesis is really off the wall, but the facts seem to support it. The millionaire investor is a little off the wall, and you never know what he's going to say in the board meetings.
off-the-wall
Fig. odd; silly; unusual. Why are you so off-the-wall today? This book is strange. It's really off-the-wall.
off the wall
Eccentric, unconventional, as in That idea of opening a 100-seat theater is off the wall. This expression probably originated in baseball or some other sport in which the ball can bounce off a wall in an erratic way. [Colloquial; 1960s]
off-the-wall
INFORMALCOMMON If something or someone is off-the-wall, they are unusual and strange. A few of her ideas were off-the-wall. Note: Off-the-wall is used more often before a noun. He played Melanie Griffith's off-the-wall boyfriend in the film `Something Wild'. Their endearing brand of innocent, off-the-wall humour is as fresh and funny today as it was back in the '50s. Note: You can use this expression both when you like this kind of person or thing, and when you do not like them. Note: This may be a reference to a shot in a game such as squash or handball, where the ball bounces off the wall at an unexpected angle.
off the wall
1 eccentric or unconventional. 2 (of a person) crazy or angry. 3 (of an accusation) without basis or foundation. North American informaloff the ˈwall
(informal) unusual and amusing; slightly crazy: Some of his ideas are really off the wall. ♢ They’ve both got a rather off-the-wall sense of humour.off-the-wall
mod. strange; improbable; nonsensical. Your ideas are generally off-the-wall, but this one makes sense.
off the wall
Slang1. Extremely unconventional.
2. Without foundation; ridiculous: an accusation that is really off the wall.