off the top of my head
without thinking carefully or checking
In Spanish
así de improviso, sin pensarlo mucho
Examples
- Off the top of my head, I'd say we have around fifty customers.
- Off the top of my head, I can't remember his last name.
- She gave an answer off the top of her head during the interview.
When it's used
This idiom is used in informal situations when someone gives an immediate answer without much thought. It is common in casual conversation, especially when emphasizing that the information may not be entirely accurate.
The common mistake
A common mistake is saying 'out of the top of my head', which is not English. The correct phrase is 'off the top of my head'.