to spend time doing or saying things that will make people admire or support you, instead of dealing with more important matters.

Politicians these days are more interested in playing to the gallery than exercising real influence on world events.

• off the cuff
• off-the-cuff
• off the face of the earth
• off the hook
• off the map
• off the mark
• off the peg
• off the rack
• off the record
• off-the-record
• off the shelf
• off the top of head
• off the top of your head
• off the wagon
• off-the-wall
• off the wall
• off to a flying start
• off to the races
• off your own bat
• of late
• of old
• of one mind
• of own accord
• of own making
• of someone's own accord