off-base
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Adjective:
- Incorrect; mistaken; not in accordance with facts or reality: Describes an idea, statement, or assumption that is wrong or inaccurate.
- Located or situated outside the boundaries of a military base: Describes housing, facilities, or activities that exist or occur away from a military installation.
Usage Examples
- Adjective (Incorrect):
- His estimate of the cost was completely off-base.
- The reporter's accusations were off-base and lacked evidence.
- Adjective (Located outside a base):
- Many military families seek off-base housing for more space.
- The new policy restricts off-base activities for trainees.
Advanced Usage
- "to be off-base": To be fundamentally wrong or misguided.
- Your criticism of her work is totally off-base; she did an excellent job.
- "off-base" as a predicate adjective: Often follows a linking verb like "is," "was," or "seems."
- The theory seems intriguing but is ultimately off-base.
Variants and Related Words
- Off-base housing (noun phrase): Residential accommodations located outside a military base.
- Off-base can function as an adverb in informal contexts, though this is less common.
- He guessed off-base again.
Synonyms
- Incorrect, wrong, erroneous, inaccurate, misguided, unfounded.
Related Phrases
- Off the mark: Similar in meaning to the "incorrect" sense.
- Your prediction was off the mark.
- Out in left field: Informal idiom meaning very mistaken or eccentric.
- His proposal came from out in left field.
Notes on Meaning
The primary and most common contemporary meaning is "incorrect or mistaken." The military-related meaning ("located outside a base") is more specific and context-dependent. In general usage without a military context, the word is understood to mean "wrong."
Adjective
- located outside a military base
- off-base housing