be out of focus

1. To be unclear; to lack sharp definition. Someone go tell them that the film is out of focus! I don't need my glasses all the time, but everything is slightly out of focus without them. Let me take a look. If the vase of flowers is out of focus, it will come out blurry in the pictures.

2. To be unable to produce a clear, sharp image. Who's been messing with my telescope? It's completely out of focus! I've tried adjusting it over and over again, but the projector is still out of focus. The camera is still out of focus? Hmm, that's a problem.

3. To not be clearly understood, explained, discussed, etc. The point of the professor's lecture was completely out of focus by the end, as she just continued rambling on about whatever topic came to mind. I'm not surprised The Sound and the Fury is out of focus for your students—Faulkner's narrative style is quite complex and convoluted. The importance of environmental conservation is out of focus for a lot of the students, but I'm hopeful that Chelsea's speech will teach them a thing or two.