out of kilter

*out of kilter and *off-kilter 

1. Lit. out of balance; crooked or tilted. (*Typically: be ~; get ~; knock something ~.) John, your tie is sort of off-kilter. Let me fix it. Please straighten the picture on the wall. It's out of kilter.

2. Fig. malfunctioning; on the fritz. (*Typically: be ~; go ~.) My furnace is out of kilter. I have to call someone to fix it. This computer is out of kilter. It doesn't let me log on.

See also: out

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out of kilter 

1. if something is out of kilter, it is not operating or working as it should Even one sleepless night can throw your body out of kilter.

2. if two things are out of kilter, or if one thing is out of kilter with another, they are not similar any more (often + with ) A further tax increase on cigarettes would put Britain out of kilter with the rest of Europe.

See also: out

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out of kilter

1. not working well or not in good condition out of whack Going just one night without sleep throws me out of kilter for a couple of days afterward. She wasn't behaving normally - her sense of humor was out of kilter.

2. not matching out of whack His fancy new home seems slightly out of kilter with his plain, quiet image.

See also: out