off balance

Idioms  

1. Out of equilibrium, unsteady, as in When learning how to ride a two-wheeler, it's easy to get off balance and fall , or She stood up and threw the canoe off balance . [Mid-1900s]

2. Surprised, unprepared, as in The teacher gives unannounced tests to keep the class off balance . [Second half of 1900s]

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Example Sentences

Goldman’s current leadership has done the right thing in moving a lot of our investments off balance sheet to avoid excessive volatility.

From The Wall Street Journal

But as he hurled his partner high above the ice, he was thrown off balance by grammar and umlauts.

From The Wall Street Journal

The 41-year-old's arm got stuck in a gate just 13 seconds into her run on Sunday at Olimpia delle Tofane in Cortina, throwing her off balance.

From BBC

Vonn, 41, was competing nine days after rupturing ligaments in her left knee but hitting the first gate left her off balance, and her dreams of winning a medal in what she said will be her final Olympic downhill were over.

From BBC

The Alabama defense works to throw the quarterback off balance.

From Los Angeles Times