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out of kilter

English translation: out of order / out of control

09:27 May 6, 2004
English language (monolingual) [PRO]
Social Sciences - Linguistics
English term or phrase: out of kilter
Things were going the way she planned so she says: ... the evening is out of kilter. What does the phrase actually mean? Thanks.
Natasa Mazar
Local time: 00:39
Selected answer:out of order / out of control
Explanation:
It means out of order / out of control - it wasn't going the way it was planned.
Selected response from:

IanW (X)
Local time: 00:39
Grading comment
Thanks a lot for your help
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



SUMMARY OF ALL EXPLANATIONS PROVIDED
4 +19out of order / out of control
IanW (X)
5Not working the way it's supposed to
humbird


Discussion entries: 1





  

Answers


1 min   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +19
out of order / out of control


Explanation:
It means out of order / out of control - it wasn't going the way it was planned.

IanW (X)
Local time: 00:39
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 20
Grading comment
Thanks a lot for your help

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Rowan Morrell: Most definitely.
0 min
agree  jerrie: off course
5 mins
  -> Of course
agree  awilliams
11 mins
agree  Vicky Papaprodromou
15 mins
agree  Jacqueline van der Spek
24 mins
agree  lindaellen (X)
1 hr
agree  David Moore (X): also "off balance"
2 hrs
agree  DGK T-I: as Ian & David say, from 'out of order/control'/'off balance' http://www.wordreference.com/english/definition.asp?en=kilte...
2 hrs
agree  NancyLynn
3 hrs
agree  Nancy Arrowsmith: out of whack
4 hrs
agree  Jörgen Slet
4 hrs
agree  Laurel Porter (X): Indeed, Ian et al. - I was wondering why there's no "in kilter", and found this: http://www.bartleby.com/62/13/K0881300.html
4 hrs
agree  jccantrell
5 hrs
agree  Alfa Trans (X)
6 hrs
agree  Java Cafe
6 hrs
agree  Hacene
6 hrs
agree  Olliespost: Off balance is a bit better than out of control, Olivia Romero
8 hrs
agree  naledge: things were not going on track or were off balance
9 hrs
agree  hookmv
1 day 10 hrs
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

9 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5
Not working the way it's supposed to


Explanation:
Basically I agree with Ian, however original meanings of the phrase are:
1. Not balanced right (like a scale that does not measure correctly);
2. Needing repair, not working right.

From "Dictionary of American Idiom"

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2004-05-06 18:36:58 (GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

This refers mostly to an instrument or tool.

humbird
Native speaker of: Native in JapaneseJapanese, Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 4
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