noises off
Originating from theater, "noises off" describes offstage sounds used to create atmosphere or indicate unseen actions, and has extended to refer to peripheral background noises in various contexts.
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Definition
B2Theater
(technical)Sounds made offstage to suggest actions or events not visible to the audience.
Example
- The director used noises off to simulate the sound of a car crash happening outside the scene.
C1General
(informal, humorous)Background sounds that distract from the main focus of an event or situation.
Example
- During the meeting, the noises off from the construction site next door were quite distracting.