Idiom idiom
reel off
Meaning
To list effortlessly and quickly.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Examples
“She can reel off the names of all the planets.”
“The expert was able to reel off a long list of statistics to support her argument during the meeting.”
“Without pausing to consult his notes, the professor proceeded to reel off a series of complex historical dates and names for the entire lecture.”
Origin
The idiom originates from the noun *reel*, suggesting the fluid, mechanical movement of a winding device. It entered the lexicon as a metaphor for continuous and rapid delivery, likening the act of speech to the unhindered rotation of a spool.
Anchors to
Last updated August 10, 2026