off the wall

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.

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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]

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off-the-wall

INFORMAL

COMMON 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 informal

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off 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.

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off-the-wall

mod. strange; improbable; nonsensical. Your ideas are generally off-the-wall, but this one makes sense.

off the wall

Slang

1. Extremely unconventional.

2. Without foundation; ridiculous: an accusation that is really off the wall.

See also: off, wall