| Main Entry: | off-the-cuff |
| Part of Speech: | adjective |
| Definition: | extemporaneous |
Synonyms: |
ad hoc, ad-lib, automatic, autoschediastic, by ear, casual, expedient, extemporary, extempore, fake*, free, immediate, impromptu, improv, improvisatory, improvised, improviso, informal, jamming, made-up, makeshift, offhand, on impulse, on-the-spot, snap, spontaneous, spur-of-the-moment, toss off, toss out, unplanned, unpremeditated, unprepared, unrehearsed, unstudied, winging it |
| Main Entry: | ad-lib |
| Part of Speech: | adjective |
| Definition: | at one's pleasure |
Synonyms: |
according to pleasure, ad libitum, as one thinks best, as one wishes, at will, extemporaneous, extempore, extemporize, extemporized, impromptu, improvise, improvised, made-up, off-the-cuff, off-the-cuff, spontaneous, unprepared, unrehearsed, without restraint |
Antonyms: |
deliberate, planned, prepared, rehearsed, written |
| Main Entry: | informal |
| Part of Speech: | adjective |
| Definition: | casual, simple |
Synonyms: |
breezy, colloquial, congenial, cool*, democratic, down home, easy, easygoing, everyday, extempore, familiar, folksy, frank, free, free-and-easy, homey, improv, inconspicuous, intimate, laid back, loose, low-pressure, mellow, mixed, motley, natural, off-the-cuff, open, ordinary, relaxed, spontaneous, sporty, straightforward, throwaway, unceremonious, unconstrained, unconventional, unfussy, unofficial, unrestrained, urbane, without ceremony |
Antonyms: |
buttoned-up, ceremonious, dressed-up, formal, official, rigid, stiff |
| Main Entry: | invent |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | create, think up |
Synonyms: |
ad-lib, author, bear, bring into being, coin, come up with, come upon, compose, conceive, contrive, cook up, design, devise, discover, dream up, envision, execute, fake, fashion, find, forge, form, formulate, frame, hatch, imagine, improve, improvise, inaugurate, initiate, jam*, knock off, make, make up, mint, off-the-cuff, originate, plan, produce, project, toss off, turn out, wing* |
| Notes: | The word discover goes back to Latin dis- and cooperire, meaning 'to remove the covering; completely uncover.' By 1553, it was used to mean 'seeing or gaining knowledge of something previously unknown' and 'finding out; bringing to light.' You discover ('uncover') something that is already there, something that has existed but is generally unknown - but you invent something that has never existed before. |
Antonyms: |
steal |
| Main Entry: | spontaneous |
| Part of Speech: | adjective |
| Definition: | impulsive, willing |
Synonyms: |
ad-lib, automatic, break loose, casual, down, extemporaneous, extempore, free, free spirited, from the hip, impetuous, impromptu, improvised, inevitable, instinctive, involuntary, irresistible, natural, off top of head, off-the-cuff, offhand, simple, unartful, unavoidable, unbidden, uncompelled, unconscious, unconstrained, uncontrived, uncontrolled, unforced, unintentional, unplanned, unpremediated, unprompted, unsophisticated, unstudied, up front, voluntary |
Antonyms: |
deliberate, intended, planned, premeditated |
| Main Entry: | ad libitum |
| Part of Speech: | adjective, adverb |
| Definition: | at one's pleasure |
Synonyms: |
according to pleasure, ad-lib, as one thinks best, as one wishes, at will, extemporaneous, freely, impromptu, improvised, impulsive, made-up, off-the-cuff, offhand, spontaneously, unrehearsed, without restraint |
| Main Entry: | quick-and-dirty |
| Part of Speech: | adjective |
| Definition: | done faster and easier but slipshod |
Synonyms: |
ad-hoc, cheaply done, cheaply made, crude but effective, improvised, jury-rigged, makeshift, of inferior quality, off-the-cuff, offhand, spur-of-the moment |