off course

off course

1. Literally, in the wrong direction or away from the intended course. Could you check the map? I think we're a bit off course.
2. By extension, going against or straying away from an established plan or the correct or intended course of action. I got a little off course after my girlfriend broke up with me, so I'm trying to get refocused on my studies. This project is so off course that I don't know if it's worth continuing.
See also: course, off
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

*off course

 
1. Lit. not going in the right direction. (*Typically: be ~; drift ~; get ~.) The ship is off course and may strike the reef!
2. Fig. not following the plan correctly. (*Typically: be ~; get ~.) The project is off course and won't be finished on time. l am off course and doing poorly.
See also: course, off
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

off course

Away from the planned or intended course.
See also: course, off
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition.
See also:
  • a matter of course
  • matter of course, a
  • take a course
  • take a course (in something)
  • snap course
  • in due course
  • nothing for it
  • there's nothing (else) for it (but to do something)
  • there's nothing for it
  • there's only one thing for it
References in periodicals archive
ARNOLD PALMER On course [euro]0 Off course [euro]34,476,200 Total [euro]34,476,200
Fiona said: "The development and resulting tour of A Little Bird Blown Off Course was a dream come true for me and could only have been improved upon by being given the chance to showcase Margaret Fay Shaw's work to a bigger audience.
Bobby the racing pigeon, pictured below, landed miles off course covered in ash from the eruption of Eyjafjallaj|kull
The West Yorkshire firm, which has an office in Willenhall, will supply Off Course, with new "Gaming Options 4" terminals, which play a variety of computer games, and also have a live link to a central hub to reduce the number of breakdowns.
"However, you cannot account for athletes going off course. I can only apologise once more to those athletes and I can promise them we will do everything in our power to make sure there is no repeat next year.
Mr Oldfield said: 'As I approached the ground I could feel myself being blown off course. Then I hit the fence.'
All were rescued at a position 1,000 miles off course.
Swift Mississippi River currents had pushed the tow and its bridges off course. Several barges had hit the Greenville, Miss., bridge.
NORDIC BUSINESS REPORT-31 January 2002-UPDATE: 'Isabella' was blown off course by strong wind - report (C)1994-2002 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD http://www.m2.com
Colin Bodill, 49, was forced to land by jet fighters when he was blown 100 miles off course.
No time is spent in preparation for the procedure; no expensive reprocessing is involved; the myringotome is always sharp; the suction tubes always function as intended; best clinical practice is observed, and nothing is overlooked to throw financial projections off course.
The failed lander mission followed the loss in September of the Mars Climate Orbiter, which flew off course and was destroyed.
Jet streams can divide into branches without warning, carrying a balloon far off course. But the Orbiter pilots were guided by meteorologists (weather scientists) on the ground using advanced computer models and sophisticated satellite data of the Earth's hour-to-hour wind patterns.
A YACHT skipper who forced an Irish ferry to veer off course has been prosecuted by the Port of Milford Haven.
The aircraft veered off course en route to Florida and was reported to have crossed Cuban airspace before downing in Jamaica.