lop-sided

The picture frame hangs lop-sided on the wall.

Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Unevenly balanced; leaning to one side: "lop-sided" describes something that is not level or symmetrical, often because one side is heavier, larger, or lower than the other.
   • Disproportionate or unequal: It can also refer to a situation, relationship, or contest where one side or element is significantly stronger, more dominant, or more developed than the other.

Usage Examples

• (The shelf leaned to one side due to uneven support.)
• (Her smile was asymmetrical.)
• (The outcome was extremely unequal in favour of one candidate.)

Advanced Usage

• "a lop-sided grin": a smile that is crooked or uneven.

  • He gave her a lop-sided grin that showed his playful nature. (His smile was not symmetrical, adding to his charm.)

• "a lop-sided victory": a win achieved by a very large margin.

  • The team celebrated their lop-sided victory, having scored ten goals to none. (The win was extremely one-sided.)

Variants and Related Words

• Lop-sidedly (adv): in a manner that is uneven or unbalanced.

  • The painting hung lop-sidedly on the wall. (It was tilted or not straight.)

• Lop-sidedness (n): the quality or state of being uneven or disproportionate.

  • The lop-sidedness of the debate made it frustrating for the minority viewpoint. (The lack of balance was evident.)

Synonyms

• Asymmetrical: lacking symmetry; not identical on both sides.
• Uneven: not level, flat, or uniform.
• Crooked: bent, twisted, or not straight.
• One-sided: biased or favouring only one side.

Related Idioms

• "a lop-sided affair": an event or situation that is heavily unbalanced.

  • The game was a lop-sided affair, with the home team dominating from start to finish. (The match was not competitive.)

• "lop-sided with age": describing something that has become uneven over time due to wear or use.

  • The chair was lop-sided with age, its legs worn down on one side. (It had developed an unevenness from long use.)