off-beat; off-topic; digress
Meanings
2 senses · 6 examplesverb
(in traditional opera or music) to miss the beat; to be off-rhythm
Technical term from traditional Chinese opera (e.g., Peking opera), describing a performance where the singing or playing deviates from the prescribed rhythmic pattern (板眼).
He wasn't in good form today and sang off-beat.
You can't miss the beat in this allegro section; you must hit the drum accents precisely.
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As soon as the percussionist sped up, he got nervous and lost the rhythm.
verb
to digress; to stray from the subject; to speak or act inappropriately
informalFigurative extension of the theatrical term. Often used with the diminutive suffix 儿 (走板儿) in spoken language to indicate a colloquial, slightly critical tone.
As he talked, he went off-topic and started chatting about family琐事.
Don't speak inappropriately in formal settings; you must observe propriety.
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