drift

*off course 

1. Lit. not going in the right direction. (*Typically: be ~; drift ~; get ~.) The ship is off course and may strike the reef!

2. Fig. not following the plan correctly. (*Typically: be ~; get ~.) The project is off course and won't be finished on time. l am off course and doing poorly.

See also: course

(Do you) get my drift?

Do you understand what I mean?; Do you understand what I am getting at? Father: I want you to settle down and start studying. Get my drift? Bob: Sure, Pop. Whatever you say. Mary: Get out of my way and stop following me around. Do you get my drift? John: I guess so.

See also: get

drift along

to float along; to be carried along on no particular course. The boat just drifted along lazily with the current. The project drifted along until we received the leadership we needed.

See also: along

drift apart (from each other )

1. . Lit. [for floating things] to separate as they drift. The boats drifted apart from one another. The boats drifted apart in the waves.

2. Fig. [for people] to lead their lives without contact with each other having been together or friendly. He drifted apart from his friends. As the years went by, they drifted apart.

See also: apart

drift away

(from someone or something ) [for floating people, animals, or things] to move away from a particular person or thing, on the surface of water. (See also .) We watched the boat drift away from us. He was drifting away on the ice block and there was nothing we could do.

See also: away

drift back (to someone or something)

to move back to someone or something slowly, on the surface of water. The canoe drifted back to shore. My little boat finally drifted back to me.

See also: back

drift back (to someone or something)

to move back to someone or something slowly, on the surface of water. The canoe drifted back to shore. My little boat finally drifted back to me.

See also: back

drift in

(to something) to move slowly and gradually into something. The people drifted slowly into the hall. The boats drifted into the shore on the tide.

drift off

to move slowly away. The boat slowly drifted off and was gone. The clouds drifted off and the sun came out.

drift off to sleep

Fig. to fall asleep gradually. At last, he drifted off to sleep. During that boring lecture, I drifted off to sleep a number of times.

See also: sleep

drift out

to move out of a place slowly. After there was no more food, the people drifted out, one by one. The boat drifted out and almost got away.

See also: out

drift toward someone or something

to move slowly and gradually toward someone or something. The clouds drifted toward us, and we could see that a storm was coming. As the clouds drifted toward us, we could feel the humidity increase.

See also: toward

drift with something 

1. . Lit. to float along with something; to be carried along at the same rate as something. He paddled the canoe into the center of the stream and let it drift with the current.

2. Fig. to "move along" passively with events and ideas. He is not very decisive and is as likely as not to drift with the tide of sentiment.

get someone's drift

Fig. to understand what someone is saying or implying. (Akin to if you get my drift.) I don't want to hear anymore about her or you. Do you get my drift?

See also: get

get the drift of something

Fig. to understand the general idea of something. I knew enough German to get the drift of this article. I don't get the drift of what you're trying to tell me.

See also: get

if you get my drift

Fig. if you understand what I am saying or implying. (Akin to get someone's drift.) I've heard enough talk and seen enough inaction—if you get my drift.

See also: get, if

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drift with the tide

to agree with other people without thinking about things for yourself and making your own decisions We are looking for someone with the ability to lead rather than just drift with the tide.

See also: tide

get somebody's/the drift  (informal) also catch somebody's/the drift (informal)

to understand what someone is saying Can you explain that again? I don't quite get your drift. I didn't understand everything he was saying but I think I caught the drift. (informal)

See also: get

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get the drift also catch the drift

to understand in a general way what someone is telling you I usually read the first page of a report just to get the drift.

Usage notes: sometimes used in the form get someone's drift: She said something about going home, but Len didn't get her drift at the time.

See also: get

off course

not moving forward as wanted or expected The opinion polls show that voters think the government has gone off course.

Opposite of: on course

Etymology: based on the literal meaning of a ship or spacecraft going in the wrong direction

See also: course