to reel off
4
5.0
- phrasal verb
- /ril ɔf/
- Informal
- Miriam reeled off offenses, sounding like a summary of the penal code.
- reeled off a list
- reeled off the names
- reeled off consecutive achievements
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Watch on YouTubeRobert claimed that he could reel off every single state in America.
- Robert claimed that he could reel off every single state in America.
- You know, if you name, if you name a firm from a football club, I can pretty much reel off names associated with that club or with that firm.
Examples
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Robert claimed that he could reel off every single state in America.
-
I had rehearsed my confession well, so I was able to reel off six months' worth of half-lies, questionable behavior, bad words, and naughty thoughts in one breath.
Fiction book (1994) -
Where could it be?" She reeled off that statement almost too fast for me to follow.
Fiction book (1997) -
"Have I seen you in anything?" I reel off the list of my most recent commercials.
Fiction book (1999) -
Care to try? "Sure," he said, and reeled off ten chin-ups.
Fiction book (2000) -
And any elementary school student can reel off a litany of arithmetic rules that mark off zero as special and strange.
Blog text (15) -
And in Tuesday's debate, I lost count after Romney reeled off more than half a dozen references in a single answer.
Blog text (25) -
During the campaign, Candidate Obama was asked to name America's closest allies; he slowly reeled off Britain, France (yes, France), and Canada.
Blog text (9) -
If I cocked an ear in their direction, I could keep tabs on them while listening to Pop-Pop reel off last week's bowling scores.
Fiction book (1998) -
During the trivia game, she could easily reel off the capitals of every country in minutes.
Synonyms
127
3.5
Say something aloud from memory in front of other people
16
4.8
To say a list of things quickly without thinking much
8
5.8
To say facts or numbers quickly and easily
2
4.9
To do something quickly and well
1
6.3
Do something quickly without stopping
1
8.7
To say facts quickly and smoothly from memory
Say a long list quickly from memory
How Quickly
- Informal
4
5.0
- Informal
16
4.8
127
3.5
660
1.0
∞
1.0
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'to recite or list quickly' is not directly derivable from the literal sense of 'reel' (to wind/let out material) plus the directional 'off' — a B1 learner who knows only the constituents is unlikely to predict the recitation sense. However, there is a plausible metaphorical link (like ‘letting off’ items from a reel in quick succession) and the particle 'off' contributes a sense of release or completion, so the connection is partially recognizable but not fully predictable without exposure.
Etymology
Reel off: The phrasal verb reel off may come from that same image of things coming quickly from a reel; picture facts or words flowing out like thread being pulled off a spool. That's why it now means 'to say or list things quickly and easily'.