Will someone kindly tell the difference between the meaning and usage of 'out of kilter', 'out of whack' 'on the blink'
2007-11-11 16:09:39 · 5 answers · asked by yogeshwargarg 7 in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
out of kilter = the word kilter is a derivation of kilt .. meaning to be in line or aligned with .. not the Scottish male clothing
out of wack (whack) = the word whack (wack) means to be in time or in rhythm with
so the basic difference is the first is 'out of line' the second 'out of step'
on the blink = blink = to be not concentrated, non myopic .. a term denoting that a thing is out of synchrony with others
2007-11-11 16:33:03 · answer #1 · answered by The old man 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
"Off kilter", along with the other two phrases, all mean the same thing... that an object is acting strangely or not working at all. For example, if my computer kept freezing up, it would be out of whack.
I do not know where these came from, precisely, but that is what they mean.
2007-11-12 00:52:26 · answer #2 · answered by Rat 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am an old man and through out my life I have herd each one of these sayings many many times. To me they all mean roughly the same. Possibly the differences between them could be linked to different ethnicity's. I remember years ago seeing a book in a public library that did just that. You may want to check there.
2007-11-12 00:36:34 · answer #3 · answered by THOMAS D 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No real difference. They all mean the same thing. Not functioning at optimum levels.
2007-11-12 00:31:14 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
They all pretty much mean the same thing.
LIke"thats weird" or "strange" or just "out of the ordinary."
2007-11-13 10:49:47 · answer #5 · answered by Talia 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋