out of kilter

Meanings

• adjective

  Not functioning properly or in alignment; askew, awry, or out of order.

  - "The gears in the old clock were out of kilter, causing it to run slowly."
  - "The team's performance was out of kilter after the departure of their star player."

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Rhymes

Words rhyming with out of kilter
kiter , biter , litter

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Variants

List of all variants of out of kilter that leads to same result
out of kilter

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Etymology

origin and the way in which meanings have changed throughout history.

The exact origin of the term 'out of kilter' is uncertain. It is believed to have originated from the Old English term 'kile,' meaning 'a balance or pivot,' and the term 'out,' meaning 'beyond.' The phrase may have developed as a way to describe something that is not balanced or in alignment.

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Trivia

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1. The term 'out of kilter' is sometimes used figuratively to describe a person who is behaving irrationally or out of character.

2. In the game of golf, a golfer who hits the ball out of bounds is said to be 'out of kilter.'

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Related Concepts

informations on related concepts or terms closely associated with the word. Discuss semantic fields or domains that the word belongs to

1. disarray: A state of confusion or disorder.

2. disruption: An interruption or obstruction of normal function or activity.

3. malfunction: The failure of a machine or system to operate properly.

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Culture

Any cultural, historical, or symbolic significance of the word. Explore how the word has been used in literature, art, music, or other forms of expression.

The term 'out of kilter' has been used extensively in literature and popular culture to describe a state of disarray or disruption. For example, in William Shakespeare's 'Julius Caesar,' the character Cassius says, 'There is a tide in the affairs of men, Which taken at the flood, leads on to fortune; Omitted, all the voyage's dangers bid fair Toward the setting of the sun; And in the end, the whole enterprise is enter'd on, And that hath made Cassius's spirit shrink, And fortune's star to hide her countenance, And Caesar's name to be beblabbered and bellowed by the plebeians.' This passage uses the metaphor of a tide being 'out of kilter' to describe the chaos and turmoil that follows Caesar's assassination.

How to Memorize "out of kilter"

1. visualize
   

   - Imagine a clock with gears that are not turning in sync, causing the hands to move erratically.

2. associate
   

   - Associate the term 'out of kilter' with a wobbly wheel or a misaligned picture frame.

3. mnemonics
   

   - Use the acronym 'KILTER' to remember the meaning: K - Kilter means 'out of alignment'; I - Incorrect; L - Lost; T - Tangled; E - Erratic.

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