off book en · ADP
Meanings
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No longer needing the script to rehearse.
"He will glibly parse a sentence ... and repeat the catechism and whole chapters of the Bible 'off book.'"
1873, Thomas Wright, Our New Masters, Strahan & Co., page 125:After 5 days studying the script, Jane is now off book, and can concentrate on gesture more.
"'So if Antigone wants to be off book, I think the rest of you should be off book too.'"
2003, Jeffrey Eugenides, Middlesex, Picador,, →ISBN, page 332:"In all likelihood, the director will leave you alone throughout the rest of the production and focus attention on the guy who isn't off book yet."
1993, Doug Moston, Coming to Terms with Acting, →ISBN, page 74:
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(abbreviation, alt-of, ellipsis) Ellipsis of off book value (“below book value”).
alt of off book value
"in the winter of 1957-58 prices were 60 percent off book."
1963, Richard Austin Smith, Corporations in Crisis, Doubleday, page 74:
Antonyms
Relateds
off-book · on book · off the books · on the book · keep the book · hold the book · on the books