be off the rails
1. To be in a state of chaos, dysfunction, or disorder. Our project has been off the rails ever since the manager up and quit last month. Oh, things are totally off the rails now that my in-laws are coming to town a week early. A: "I can't believe everything has gone smoothly so far." B: "Just give it time—Thanksgiving dinner is always off the rails in this family."
2. To be crazy, eccentric, or mentally unhinged; to be acting in an uncontrollable, inappropriate, or socially unacceptable manner. I think you should cut back on your drinking—you were totally off the rails last night! You can't tell people you want to start a business selling bees as pets—they'll think you're totally off the rails! My youngest son got into drugs in high school and has been off the rails ever since.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
off the rails
In an abnormal or malfunctioning condition, as in Her political campaign has been off the rails for months. The phrase occurs commonly with go, as in Once the superintendent resigned, the effort to reform the school system went off the rails . This idiom alludes to the rails on which trains run; if a train goes off the rails, it stops or crashes. [Mid-1800s]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.