à côté de la plaque
French
editEtymology
editLiterally, “next to the target”.
Pronunciation
editPrepositional phrase
edit- (informal) off the mark, wide of the mark, off-beam, off-the-wall; beside the point, beside the mark
- être à côté de la plaque ― to be off the mark
- répondre à côté de la plaque ― to answer beside the point
Usage notes
edit- As an adjective, chiefly used predicatively.