Off the record means said privately, not to be quoted or published. Speak off the record, strictly off the record, that was off the record.
It is an agreement rather than a right, and it has to be made before the words are said. Journalists distinguish it from on background, where the words may be used without a name.
1phraseoff the recordSaid privately, not to be quoted or published.
“He would only talk off the record and even then said little.”
off the record is a phrase.
Practised in Idioms