Hey, I have a question that may sound stupid to you but .

[TommyBBQ]

when someone says a knife is one off, what does that mean? I'm thinking it means one of a kind?

 

[9blades]

Your absolutely correct, one of a kind.

 

[Franz_N]

when someone says a knife is one off, what does that mean? I'm thinking it means one of a kind?

I understand it that way too, but i don't get why? I don't get the off part?

 

[Blade-fiend]

They make ONE then its OFF to another design

 

[Akcir]

I understand it that way too, but i don't get why? I don't get the off part?

Probably because it's originally a British expression, along the lines of "Spot On". I guess you could look at it as one off the beaten path of precedence.

 

[Franz_N]

I understand now, i still don't like how it sounds though I prefer one of a kind. I first heard one off watching Jim Skeleton's videos.

 

[jc57]

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/04/magazine/04FOB-onlanguage-t.html?_r=0

 

[SoCal_kid]

One off a kind

 

[precisionshootist]

I always thought "one off" came from the phrase "one of a kind" that was shortened to "one of" but pronounced "one off" to make it easier to say

 

[Pete3]

Or one off the assembly line, only one came off.

or for example if a print maker were doing custom prints off of his press, and made 24, he would have 24 off of the press.
but if he made a super rare print, and X'ed out the plate after, it would be a One-off-the-press, or a one-off.

Im guessing it came from the press scenario. but who knows.

 

[jill jackson]

one-off
BRIT.informal
adjective
1.
done, made, or happening only once and not repeated.
"one-off tax deductible donations to charity"
noun
1.
something done, made, or happening only once, not as part of a regular sequence.
"the meeting is a one-off"