off balance

off balance
{adj. phr.} 1. Not in balance; not able to stand up straight and not fall; not able to keep from turning over or falling; unsteady. * /Never stand up in a canoe; it will get off balance and turn over./ * /Paul was speeding along on his bicycle, when an unexpected hole in the road caught him off balance and he fell over./ 2. Not prepared; not ready; unable to meet something unexpected. * /Our quarterback kept the other team off balance by changing often from line plays to passes and tricky end runs./ * /The teacher's surprise test caught the class off balance, and nearly everyone got a poor mark./

Dictionary of American idioms. 2013.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • off-balance — adj [not before noun] 1.) in an unsteady position and likely to fall throw/knock/push etc sb off balance ▪ The sudden movement of the ship knocked them both off balance. 2.) catch/throw sb off balance to surprise or shock someone because they are …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • off-balance — adjective never before noun 1. ) surprised by something unexpected: thrown/caught off balance: I was thrown completely off balance by their outrageous behavior. 2. ) in a position in which you feel you are going to fall down: throw/knock someone… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • Off-Balance — Directed by Shin Togashi Release date(s) 2000 Country Japan Language Japanese …   Wikipedia

  • off balance — 1. Unstable, esp mentally or emotionally 2. In a state of unreadiness to respond to an attack, challenge, etc • • • Main Entry: ↑balance …   Useful english dictionary

  • off-balance — also off balance 1) ADJ GRADED: v n ADJ, v link ADJ If someone or something is off balance, they can easily fall or be knocked over because they are not standing firmly. He tried to use his own weight to push his attacker off but he was off… …   English dictionary

  • off-balance — ˈ ̷ ̷| ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷ adjective (or adverb) 1. : not well proportioned : out of balance the plans are off balance their military is off balance 2. : not standing, sitting, or resting in normal physical equilibrium caught off balance and knocked down… …   Useful english dictionary

  • off balance — 1) not steady or upright, for example because more weight is on one side That wheel is off balance. throw/knock someone/something off balance: He kept pulling my arm, throwing me off balance. 2) surprised, upset, or confused by something… …   English dictionary

  • off balance — {adj. phr.} 1. Not in balance; not able to stand up straight and not fall; not able to keep from turning over or falling; unsteady. * /Never stand up in a canoe; it will get off balance and turn over./ * /Paul was speeding along on his bicycle,… …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • off\ balance — adj. phr. 1. Not in balance; not able to stand up straight and not fall; not able to keep from turning over or falling; unsteady. Never stand up in a canoe; it will get off balance and turn over. Paul was speeding along on his bicycle, when an… …   Словарь американских идиом

  • off-balance — adjective (not before noun) 1 in an unsteady position so that you are likely to fall: throw/knock/push sb off balance: Lee caught hold of my wrist and pulled me off balance. 2 unprepared for something, so that it surprises or shocks you: catch sb …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

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