Idioms

go off-kilter

go off-kilter

1. To become out of equilibrium; to become not straight, level, or aligned properly; to be in a state of chaos or confusion. Between my divorce, the death of my best friend, and the financial troubles at work, it seems like everything in my life has gone off-kilter recently. The economies of nearly every country in the world went off-kilter after the economic collapse. I'm sorry, I was sleeping all day. I tend to go off-kilter when I travel overseas, and it takes me a long time to recover.

2. To stop working correctly or properly; to be or become out of order; to be out of w(h)ack. It sounds like your car's engine has gone a bit off-kilter. I'd recommend taking it to a mechanic before you go for any long drives. A: "How did the washing machine go off-kilter?" B: "I don't know, but these clothes are all sopping wet and don't smell clean!" Just give that ol' TV a good smack when it goes off-kilter.

See also: go

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

See also:

References in periodicals archive

Saints' late, and somewhat fortuitous, victory against Crystal Palace on Tuesday evening got them back to winning ways after their remarkable season started to go off-kilter.

Saints head to Switzerland

Meticulously researched and argued, Stein's book challenges the precepts of ten years of increasingly accepted scientific "fact." It begins with a sympathetic look at current scientific theories of sexual orientation but quickly pinpoints where they go off-kilter. "Many studies assume that only homosexuality is in need of an explanation; in fact, how people develop heterosexual desires is just as much of a mystery," Stein says.

Blinded by science

Copyright © 2003-2025 Farlex, Inc Disclaimer

All content on this website, including dictionary, thesaurus, literature, geography, and other reference data is for informational purposes only. This information should not be considered complete, up to date, and is not intended to be used in place of a visit, consultation, or advice of a legal, medical, or any other professional.