off-hand

[Baubau]

English Language Tests, Intermediate level

ESL/EFL Test #550 "English Slang Idioms (292)", question 1

"Do you know where the dump is?" Kyle asked his roommate. He replied, "I don't know, right off-.......... You'll have to look it up."

(a) wall
(b) topic
(c) hand
(d) tongue

English Language Tests, Intermediate level

ESL/EFL Test #550 "English Slang Idioms (292)", answer 1

"Do you know where the dump is?" Kyle asked his roommate. He replied, "I don't know, right off-hand. You'll have to look it up."

Correct answer: (c) hand

Your answer was: incorrect
"Do you know where the dump is?" Kyle asked his roommate. He replied, "I don't know, right off-wall. You'll have to look it up."
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Hello,

What's the sense of off-hand here?

Thanks in advance.

[Alan]

Hi Baubau,

'Off hand' in this context suggets 'immediately' straight away' without further consideration'. It gives the idea that you can't say now because you'll either have to think about it or find out later.

alan
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English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Present Simple

[Baubau]

I've got it now, thanks.
It's the comma that had misled me.