The cyclist bumped into me and threw me off balance.
•I was thrown off balance by the gust of wind.
2. Fig. to confuse or disorient one. •Your last question sort of threw me off balance.
•The teacher was thrown off balance by the students' difficult questions.
Dictionary of American idioms. 2013.
throw someone off balance — throw (someone) off balance to confuse or upset someone for a short time by saying or doing something that they are not expecting. I wasn t expecting any interaction with the audience and was thrown off balance by his question. (usually passive) … New idioms dictionary
throw someone off balance — throw (or catch) someone off balance cause someone to become unsteady and in danger of falling ■ figurative confuse or bewilder someone … Useful english dictionary
throw (or catch) someone off balance — make someone unsteady or catch someone unawares. → balance … English new terms dictionary
throw off balance — throw (someone) off balance to confuse or upset someone for a short time by saying or doing something that they are not expecting. I wasn t expecting any interaction with the audience and was thrown off balance by his question. (usually passive) … New idioms dictionary
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 — 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
throw — throw1 [ θrou ] (past tense threw [ θru ] ; past participle thrown [ θroun ] ) verb *** ▸ 1 send object through air ▸ 2 put quickly & carelessly ▸ 3 move (someone/something) suddenly ▸ 4 be forced to go to place ▸ 5 look etc. in direction ▸ 6… … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
throw — I UK [θrəʊ] / US [θroʊ] verb Word forms throw : present tense I/you/we/they throw he/she/it throws present participle throwing past tense threw UK [θruː] / US [θru] past participle thrown UK [θrəʊn] / US [θroʊn] *** 1) [intransitive/transitive]… … English dictionary
catch off balance — {v. phr.} To confront someone with physical force or with a statement or question he or she is not prepared to answer or deal with; to exploit the disadvantage of another. * /The smaller wrestler caught his opponent off balance and managed to… … Dictionary of American idioms
catch off balance — {v. phr.} To confront someone with physical force or with a statement or question he or she is not prepared to answer or deal with; to exploit the disadvantage of another. * /The smaller wrestler caught his opponent off balance and managed to… … Dictionary of American idioms
