off balance: meaning & examples

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Language: English

Meanings:

  • 1.

    globalneutral
    • Physically unsteady; unable to maintain bodily equilibrium or stability.

    Examples

    Beta

    • She felt off balance after stepping onto the moving boat for the first time.

      She felt off balance after stepping onto the moving boat for the first time.

    • The gymnast was off balance during her routine, which caused a slight wobble.

      The gymnast was off balance during her routine, which caused a slight wobble.

    • After slipping on the ice, he was momentarily off balance but managed to catch himself.

      After slipping on the ice, he was momentarily off balance but managed to catch himself.

    • The toddler was still off balance as she took her first tentative steps around the room.

      The toddler was still off balance as she took her first tentative steps around the room.

  • 2.

    globalinformalcolloquial
    • Mentally or emotionally unsettled, disoriented, or thrown into a state of surprise or confusion that impairs normal response or decision-making.
    • Placed at a disadvantage by being made unprepared or off-guard.

    Examples

    Beta

    • The sudden news left me feeling off balance, unsure of how to react immediately.

      The sudden news left me feeling off balance, unsure of how to react immediately.

    • She was emotionally off balance after the argument and needed some time to calm down.

      She was emotionally off balance after the argument and needed some time to calm down.

    • When the unexpected question was asked, the speaker appeared off balance and stumbled over his words.

      When the unexpected question was asked, the speaker appeared off balance and stumbled over his words.

  • 3.

    globalneutralformal
    • Financially or numerically not in equilibrium; indicating that accounts, figures, or allocations are unequal or out of balance.

    Examples

    Beta

    • The company’s accounts were off balance, showing discrepancies that needed urgent attention.

      The company’s accounts were off balance, showing discrepancies that needed urgent attention.

    • Our budget is off balance this quarter because of unforeseen expenses.

      Our budget is off balance this quarter because of unforeseen expenses.

    • The ledger was off balance, so the accountant had to review every entry carefully.

      The ledger was off balance, so the accountant had to review every entry carefully.

Examples:

  • EN: That's for catching me off balance the last time.
    ES: Eso, por haberme echado la última vez.
  • EN: European quotations are all off balance this morning. - Here you are, sir.
    ES: Las cotizaciones europeas están desequilibradas.
  • EN: The object of the shift is to catch the opponents off balance.
    ES: El objeto del cambio es desequilibrar a los oponentes.
  • EN: You're off balance, eh?
    ES: Estás desequilibrado, ¿eh?
  • EN: He got me off balance. My ligaments went and I sat down on his head.
    ES: Me cogió desprevenido, me rompí los ligamentos y me caí encima de él.
  • EN: This is the first time I've ever seen you off balance.
    ES: Es la primera vez que te he visto fuera de control.
  • EN: He turned on me with a gun, ...but he was off balance, I guess.
    ES: Se giró hacia mí con un arma, ...pero supongo que estaba trastabilleando.
  • EN: It pulls me off balance.
    ES: Me desequiIibra.
  • EN: As long as I have one hand on his shoulder I can keep him off balance.
    ES: - ¿Tienes que hacer eso? - No.
  • EN: They're off balance. You're robbing me!
    ES: Está desequilibrada. ¡Me estás robando!
  • EN: Kind of threw you off balance. So, forget it.
    ES: Eso te hizo perder el juicio.
  • EN: It may be throwing him off balance.
    ES: Podría desequilibrarlo.
  • EN: - It's just that Coke was off balance, Rose.
    ES: - Perdió un momento el equilibrio, Rose.
  • EN: He played so off-key he'd have thrown a saint off balance.
    ES: - ¿Pero qué queréis de mí? Desentona tanto que desquicia a los santos.
  • EN: Would have thrown a saint off balance?
    ES: ¿A los santos?
  • EN: That's for catching me off balance the last time.
    ES: Eso, por haberme echado la última vez.
  • EN: European quotations are all off balance this morning. - Here you are, sir.
    ES: Las cotizaciones europeas están desequilibradas.
  • EN: The object of the shift is to catch the opponents off balance.
    ES: El objeto del cambio es desequilibrar a los oponentes.
  • EN: He got me off balance. My ligaments went and I sat down on his head.
    ES: Me cogió desprevenido, me rompí los ligamentos y me caí encima de él.
  • EN: You're off balance, eh?
    ES: Estás desequilibrado, ¿eh?
  • EN: This is the first time I've ever seen you off balance.
    ES: Es la primera vez que te he visto fuera de control.

Related Idioms

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Sourced from Wiktionary

Source: Wiktionary

off balance: Meaning, Examples & Usage (English) | Idiomator