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Introduction

This expression is a way to say someone's idea, guess or opinion is far from the reality. Learn it here.

Transcript

Feifei
Hello and welcome to The English We Speak, where we explain phrases used by fluent English speakers so that you can use them as well. I'm Feifei, and I'm joined by Beth. Hello Beth!

Beth
Hi Feifei. Something embarrassing happened to me recently.

Feifei
Oh really? I want to hear all about it!

Beth
Well, my cousin asked me if I'd bake her daughter a princess birthday cake, and I thought I could. Turns out I was completely off base. I can't decorate cakes at all – it was awful!

Feifei
Ah, you were off base – you were wrong. Hmm, why was this cake decoration so bad?

Beth
Well, let's just say the cake looked more like a monster than a princess. If someone is 'off base' it means they're mistaken, or their guess or opinion is far from reality. I thought I could decorate well, but I can't.

Feifei
Oh, it happens to all of us. Well, the other day I was trying to make a costume for my son for World Book Day, but it turned out I got all the measurements wrong. The costume was too small. It didn't fit. I was way off base.

Beth
Oh, dear. That does not sound good.

Feifei
Let's listen to more examples of off base.

Examples
I've got this feeling that Georgie is annoyed with me today. What do you think? Am I off base?

I thought I could fix the toilet, but that was totally off base. I can't. And now there's water coming through the ceiling.

The critics said the film was rubbish, but I think they're completely off base. I loved it.

Beth
So, 'off base' is like saying 'you've got the wrong idea' or 'you're mistaken'. And we often add 'totally' or 'completely' before it, like we've heard in examples in the programme.

Feifei
It's also common to add the word 'way' before it, which is an informal way of saying 'really'. Beth, you don't like chocolate, right?

Beth
What? You are way off base. I love chocolate! I think it's interesting knowing where this expression comes from. Do you know, Feifei?

Feifei
Yes! It's originally a phrase from baseball. If you're off base in baseball, you're standing somewhere that's vulnerable – you're in the wrong place.

Beth
Exactly right. Well, we'll be back next time with another useful English phrase. See you soon!

Feifei
Goodbye.

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