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Glite Dictionary
off the chain

off the chain

6 9.0
Very exciting or impressive, and also free to move when set free
  • idiom
  • Slang
translation icon : increíble
  • This place is off the chain.

Me and Maul hosted a, a VIP dinner that was off the chain.

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Examples

  • I personally still love watching guys like A-Trak and Q-Bert, and I recently just saw Shiftee, and it was off the chain.

    Blog text (28)

  • The behavior of our 5th graders was a bit "off the chain."

    Blog text (19)

  • Crazy questions and off-the-chain memories always come from a Nardwaur interview.

    Blog text (14)

  • It looks like we're in store for 7 more off-the-chain nights!

    Blog text (3)

  • The speakers at this conference were off the chain, like next level thinkers, geniuses at the cutting edge of health and biotech and longevity.

    Rich Roll

  • This steak is off the chain because it is incredibly flavorful and tender.

  • The concert last night was off the chain; the energy in the crowd was amazing.

  • Her performance in the play was off the chain and received a standing ovation.

Synonyms

out of this world
vsoff the chain
  • Informal
21 4.1

Very good and impressive

also means literally released or free to move around
off the hook
vsoff the chain
  • Slang
14 8.2

Very exciting and impressive

also means literally released or free to move around
super-duper
vsoff the chain
  • Informal
4 7.9

Very good and impressive

also means literally released or free to move around

Antonyms

ordinary
683 1.0

Normal and not special or unusual

mediocre
109 4.8

Only average in quality and not very good

How Good

off the chain
  • Slang
6 9.0
amazing
∞ 1.0
great
∞ 1.0
good
∞ 1.0
ordinary
683 1.0

Surface Forms

off the chain positive

Morphology

off + the + chain

A learner who knows 'off' and 'chain' can transparently derive the literal sense 'not on the chain / free,' but the colloquial evaluative meaning 'extremely good' is a metaphorical, slang extension that is not directly predictable from the parts. Because there is a clear semantic link to the constituents for the literal sense but the idiomatic praise meaning requires cultural exposure, this is best classified as semi-transparent.

Etymology

Off the chain may come from the picture of a dog being taken off a chain and running free. That wild, free image became a way to say something is 'extremely good' or, more literally, 'free to move'.