off the shelf
Ready made for purchase from available stock; not custom built or crafted. Often hyphenated. We use our own custom software, so we can offer much more precision than what you can find off the shelf. While many off-the-shelf hearing aids are inexpensive, they are much more prone to failure than those prescribed by a doctor.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
off the shelf
Fig. ready made for purchase; not custom-made. (Hyphenated when prenominal.) I generally buy off-the-shelf clothing. I am a perfect size eight.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
off the shelf
Ready-made, available from merchandise or in stock, as opposed to a special order. For example,
Sometimes you can get a better discount by buying an appliance off the shelf. [First half of 1900s] Also see
off the rack;
on the shelf.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
off the shelf
not designed or made to order but taken from existing stock or supplies.Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
off-the-shelf
mod. readily available; purchasable without any special difficulties or delays. This is just plain old off-the-shelf hand lotion. Isn’t it great?
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
off the shelf
From ready-made merchandise in stock: supplies that were available off the shelf.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.