reel off — recite rapidly
phrasal verbC1IELTS 7+neutraloccasional
to say or list a series of things quickly and easily, often from memory, without pausing or much effort
Say it like a native
Textbook He enumerated the statistics without hesitation.
Native He just reeled off the stats.
'Reel off' captures rattling a list off effortlessly; 'enumerate without hesitation' is stiff.
Pattern: reel off sth | reel sth off
In use
- She can reel off all the capitals of Europe without even thinking.communication
- In the speaking exam, it's important not to just reel off memorised answers, but to show you can think and respond naturally.IELTS speaking
Common mistake
✗ She reeled the names off of her head.
✓ She reeled off the names from memory.
It's 'from memory' or 'off the top of her head', not 'off of her head'.
Common collocations
reel off + list— the names, facts, a list, statistics
Don't confuse it
Unlike the basic verbs 'say' or 'list', 'reel off' emphasizes speed, fluency, and sometimes a lack of real engagement with what is being said.