Phrase guide

out of kilter

prep_phrase · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • Received-Pronunciation: /ˌaʊt əv ˈkɪltə/
  • General-American: /ˌaʊt əv ˈkɪltɚ/
  • Australia: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

prep_phrase

Meaning 1

Askew, disturbed; not adjusted or working properly; out of order.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

Examples

  • I stayed up late to watch a movie, and my entire sleeping schedule has been out of kilter ever since.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From out of + kilter, kelter (“good condition, form, or order; fettle”). The latter word is of uncertain origin, but appears widely in a British dialect and also in the United States.

Across languages

Translations

8 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • French: décalé — askew, disturbed; not adjusted or working properly
  • French: déséquilibré — askew, disturbed; not adjusted or working properly
  • French: déglingué — askew, disturbed; not adjusted or working properly
  • Italian: fuori fase — askew, disturbed; not adjusted or working properly
  • Northern Kurdish: tevlihev — askew, disturbed; not adjusted or working properly
  • Northern Kurdish: serobin — askew, disturbed; not adjusted or working properly
  • Northern Kurdish: xirab — askew, disturbed; not adjusted or working properly
  • Plautdietsch: winjsch — askew, disturbed; not adjusted or working properly