What Does "Out of Kilter" Mean?
"Out of kilter" is an English idiom. It means "not functioning correctly or not in proper order; out of balance or out of alignment."Examples in Sentences
Here are three examples of the idiom "out of kilter" used in a sentence:- The old grandfather clock was out of kilter and chimed at the wrong times.
- The project was out of kilter due to miscommunication among team members.
- Her schedule was completely out of kilter, causing stress and confusion.
What Is an Idiom?
An idiom is a commonly used expression whose meaning does not relate to the literal meaning of its words. In other words, if you were to translate "Out of Kilter" word for word, there is no guarantee the translation would help you to understand the meaning.An idiom often includes a cultural or historical context that makes it difficult for non-native English speakers to understand. A phrase is classified as an idiom when a direct translation of the words does not reveal the meaning. Most idioms rely on shared knowledge or experiences known only to a specific community.
A Quick Test
You now know what "out of kilter" means, but are you good at English idioms? Let's see!


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