subs. (cricketers’).—The field of the wicket-keeper.
1856. T. HUGHES, Tom Brown at Rugby, ii. 8. Johnson, the younger bowler, is getting wild, and bowls a ball almost wide to THE OFF.
Adv. (colloquial).—1. Out-of-date. [Originally waiters’: e.g., ‘Chops is HOFF’ = ‘there are no more chops to-day.’]—2. Stale; in bad condition: e.g., Smells a little bit OFF, don’t it?
1892. Illustrated Bits, 22 Oct., 6, 2. Theosophy is OFF—decidedly off.
1892. Tit-Bits, 17 Sept., 417, 3. If the leopard’s tail is not spotted to the root this conundrum is declared OFF.
1892. Ally Sloper’s Half Holiday, 27 Feb., 66, 2. Will you allow me to offer you a glass of ale? I’m afraid it’s a little OFF. Is it? then, I’m OFF too.
OFF BAT, phr. (Winchester College).—See quot.
1866. MANSFIELD, School-Life at Winchester College, 222. OFF BAT. The station of one of the field in a cricket match, called by the outer world ‘Point.’
OFF THE HORN, phr. (common).—Said of very hard steak.
OFF THE HINGE, phr. (common).—Out of work.
1863. Fun, 25 April, iv. 58, ‘A Song About Centralization.’
| We’ve rights within our city bounds which no one should infringe, | |
| And if those rights were broken down ’twould chuck us OFF THE HINGE. |
