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Glite Dictionary
to roll off

to roll off

1 5.8
To say facts or numbers quickly and easily
  • phrasal verb
  • /roʊl ɔf/
translation icon : recitar de memoria
  • She can recite the entire poem; the words just roll off her tongue.
  • rolled off his tongue

Or did this whole slew of stuff just come rolling off the tongue?

Examples

  • When he talks about his adventures, the stories roll off his tongue effortlessly.

  • I thought you John Wayne types just let it roll off your back.

    The Transporter Refueled (2015)

  • What I was that just that doesn't really roll off the tongue.

  • Or did this whole slew of stuff just come rolling off the tongue?

    Film Courage

  • That's not a better name anyway, Max said Max, that really rolls off the tongue doesn't it?

  • Yesterday I signed up for a Livestrong program at my YMCA and smiled and said, "I'm a cancer survivor and I'm interested in signing up," and it rolled off my tongue so easily.

    Blog text (21)

  • During the presentation, thanks to her preparation, the statistics rolled off his tongue with confidence.

Synonyms

to recite
vsto roll off
86 3.5

Say something aloud from memory in front of other people

is quicker and informal, focusing on easy fluent repetition
to rattle off
vsto roll off
  • Informal
11 4.8

To say a list of things quickly without thinking much

is more about smooth effortless fluency rather than mere rapid listing
to reel off
vsto roll off
  • Informal
3 5.0

Say a list of things quickly and easily

focuses on fluent effortless flow rather than only naming items
to rattle down
vsto roll off
  • Informal
7.7

Say a long list quickly from memory

is quicker and more casual, not necessarily long or memory driven
to spiel off
vsto roll off
  • Informal
8.7

To say facts quickly and smoothly from memory

is more natural and effortless, not rehearsed or extravagant

Antonyms

to stumble
48 3.0

To hesitate or make a small mistake when speaking

to fumble
19 3.5

To do something clumsily and make a mistake

How Fluently

to roll off
1 5.8
to rattle off
  • Informal
11 4.8
to recite
86 3.5
to say
∞ 1.0
to stumble
48 3.0

Surface Forms

roll off infinitive
rolled off past
rolled off past participle
rolling off present participle
rolls off third person singular

Morphology

roll + off

The sense 'to recite or repeat quickly and fluently' relies on a metaphorical extension from the physical verb 'roll' (smooth, continuous movement) plus 'off' (away/completion), so there is a recognisable link to smooth effortless production. However, the specific verbal meaning is not strictly compositional and could not be reliably predicted by a B1 learner who only knows the literal senses, so it is only partially transparent.

Etymology

Roll off: The phrasal verb roll off comes from the image of words that roll off the tongue like small balls sliding away; the sound feels smooth and easy. So, when someone 'rolls off' facts, they say them quickly and smoothly with little effort.