deviate from accepted standards; be off track
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesidiom
to say or do something that deviates from accepted standards; be off track
informalLiterally means 'off the string, off the beat', originally from Chinese opera where '走板' refers to singing off-tune. Often implies an action or statement is improper, incorrect, or out of line with rules or common sense.
Tā他
jīn今
tiān天
de的
fā发
yán言
wán完
quán全
lí离
xián弦
zǒu走
bǎn板
，
hé和
huì会
yì议
zhǔ主
tí题
háo毫
bù不
xiāng相
gān干
。
His speech today was completely off track and had nothing to do with the meeting's theme.
Nǐ你
zhè这
yàng样
chǔ处
lǐ理
wèn问
tí题
，
jiǎn简
zhí直
shì是
lí离
xián弦
zǒu走
bǎn板
，
bù不
fú符
hé合
gōng公
sī司
guī规
dìng定
。
The way you handled the problem is completely deviating from the norm and doesn't comply with company regulations.
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Jì计
huà划
bì必
xū须
yán严
gé格
zhí执
xíng行
，
bù不
néng能
yǒu有
rèn任
hé何
lí离
xián弦
zǒu走
bǎn板
de的
xíng行
wéi为
。
The plan must be strictly implemented; there can be no actions that deviate from it.