- off-key
- ,off-`key adjective, adverbmusic or singing that is off-key does not sound good because the notes are slightly wrong
Usage of the words and phrases in modern English. 2013.
Usage of the words and phrases in modern English. 2013.
off-key — {adj.}, {informal} 1. Not proper; queer. * /When George told jokes at the funeral, everyone thought his action was off key./ 2. In a false key. * /John always sings off key./ Compare: OUT OF LINE … Dictionary of American idioms
off-key — {adj.}, {informal} 1. Not proper; queer. * /When George told jokes at the funeral, everyone thought his action was off key./ 2. In a false key. * /John always sings off key./ Compare: OUT OF LINE … Dictionary of American idioms
off-key — adj music that is off key sounds unpleasant because it is played slightly above or below the correct ↑pitch →in tune ▪ The band sounded slightly off key. >off key adv ▪ Someone upstairs was singing off key … Dictionary of contemporary English
off-key — adj. & adv. Deviating from the proper pitch; of a musical note or series of notes; as, an off key note; to sing off key. Syn: false, sour. [WordNet 1.5] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
off-key — (adj.) 1920, from OFF (Cf. off) (adv.) + musical sense of KEY (Cf. key) (n.1). Figurative sense is from 1943 … Etymology dictionary
off-key — [adj] not harmonious abnormal, anomalous, clinker*, deviant, discordant, dissonant, divergent, inharmonious, irregular, jarring, out of keeping*, out of tune*, sour*, sour note*, unnatural; concept 594 Ant. concordant, harmonious, on key … New thesaurus
off-key — ► ADJECTIVE & ADVERB 1) Music not in the correct key or of the correct pitch. 2) inappropriate … English terms dictionary
off-key — off′ key′ adj. 1) cvb deviating from the correct tone or pitch; out of tune 2) cvb somewhat irregular, abnormal, or incongruous • Etymology: 1925–30 … From formal English to slang
off-key — [ôf′kē′] adj. 1. not on the right note; flat or sharp 2. not quite in accord with what is normal, fitting, etc … English World dictionary
Off-key — For the record label, see Offkey Recordings. For the jazz standard sometimes known as Off Key, see Desafinado. Off key is a term often used to denote musical content that is not at the expected frequency or pitch period, either with respect to… … Wikipedia