Nowadays, we have the luxury of using computers, phones, and tablets to take notes wherever we go, with the internet accessible almost everywhere. However, in the era before the twentieth century, such conveniences were nonexistent, but there were removable cuffs.
The phrase “off the cuff” is believed to have originated from the old practice of jotting down informal notes on detachable cuffs of men’s shirts. Even when the cuffs were not detachable, the practice of starching them made them suitable for notetaking. Men would often scribble quick reminders or calculations on their shirt cuffs, especially during meetings or important discussions.
Imagine the traveling actors of the 15th and 16th centuries, moving from one place to another, staging performances without scripts or booklets. Instead, they relied on improvisation, with their lines being created on the spot. This tradition continued, with figures like Goldoni reforming Commedia dell’ Arte.
In the 19th century, millions of men wore disposable paper shirt fronts, collars, and cuffs, which owed their success to advancements in paper production technology.
Writers and actors would discuss new plays and books without paper to jot down their ideas, so cuffs served as a convenient substitute.
Hemingway and Chandler, for instance, used Moleskine notebooks for notetaking.
For performers and speakers, cuffs became invaluable tools, providing discreet spaces for referencing information during performances.
Even Charlie Chaplin immortalized this concept in “Modern Times,” where his character writes lyrics on his shirt cuffs.
The relation between “off the cuff” and Italian lessons? Well, during a Starbucks visit with a student who lacked traditional note-taking tools, he resorted to writing on napkins.
This demonstrates the human ability to overcome obstacles, no matter how big or small.
Overall, the article illustrates the willingness of humans to adapt to circumstances and find creative solutions to challenges. 😊