off-color

off-color
off-color (adj.) 1858, from OFF (Cf. off) (adv.) + COLOR (Cf. color) (n.); originally used of gems; figurative extension to "of questionable taste, risqué" is American English, 1867.

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • off-color — • off color • off colored adj 1. Not of the proper hue or shade; not matching a standard color sample. The librarian complained that the painter had used an off color green on the walls. 2. informal Not of the proper kind for polite society; in… …   Словарь американских идиом

  • off-color — adj. humorously vulgar; mildly obscene; risque; as, an off color joke. Syn: bawdy, blue, ribald. [WordNet 1.5] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • off-color — adjective 1. ) an off color joke or remark is rude or offensive 2. ) not usually before noun BRITISH feeling slightly sick: I m feeling a little off color today, so I m not going to work …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • off-color — [ôf′kul′ər] adj. 1. varying from the usual, standard, or required color ☆ 2. not quite proper; in rather poor taste; risqué [an off color joke] …   English World dictionary

  • off-color — index improper, suggestive (risqué) Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • off-color — [adj] risqué blue*, indelicate, purple*, racy*, salty*, shady, suggestive, vulgar, wicked; concept 545 Ant. clean, nice …   New thesaurus

  • off-color — /awf kul euhr, of /, adj. 1. not having the usual or standard color: an off color gem. 2. of doubtful propriety or taste; risqué: an off color joke. 3. not in one s usual health: to feel off color. Also, esp. Brit., off colour. Also, off colored… …   Universalium

  • off-color — or[off colored] {adj.} 1. Not of the proper hue or shade; not matching a standard color sample. * /The librarian complained that the painter had used an off color green on the walls./ 2. {informal} Not of the proper kind for polite society; in… …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • off-color — or[off colored] {adj.} 1. Not of the proper hue or shade; not matching a standard color sample. * /The librarian complained that the painter had used an off color green on the walls./ 2. {informal} Not of the proper kind for polite society; in… …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • off-color — adjective 1. humorously vulgar bawdy songs off color jokes ribald language • Syn: ↑bawdy, ↑ribald • Similar to: ↑dirty …   Useful english dictionary

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