askew

askew
adverb or adjective
;-;sky;
Synonyms of askew
: out of line : at an angle
The picture hung askew.
askewness noun


Did you know?
If you watch enough nature documentaries you may notice that gazelles are able to escape the claws (and, subsequently, jaws) of cheetahs when they zigzag across the savannah rather than simply run in a straight line. In Middle English, prey outmaneuvering a predator in this way might be said to be “skewing.” Skew means both “to take an oblique course” (as it does in modern English too) as well as “to escape,” and comes from the Anglo-French word eschiver, meaning “to escape or avoid.” It’s this skew, with its suggestion of crooked lines, that forms the basis of the adjective askew (the prefix a- means “in [such] a state or condition”). Askew is used as both an adjective and an adverb to describe things or actions that are a little off, not straight, or at an angle. The “escape” sense of the Middle English skew isn’t so much implied by askew, but we suppose that a painting hanging askew on one’s wall could be, metaphorically speaking, attempting to escape from the rest of the d;cor.

Synonyms
aslant
atilt
awry
cock-a-hoop
cockeyed
crazy
crooked
listing
lopsided
oblique
off-kilter
pitched
skewed
slanted
slanting
slantwise
tilted
tipping
uneven
Examples of askew in a Sentence
his hat was askew because of the wind
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Cicada Fry specifically developed this pattern to better match the silhouette of real cicadas, whose wings often go askew on the water.
—Ryan Chelius, Field & Stream, 15 May 2024
In nearby Beverly Glen, on Caribou Lane, an upside-down piano — caked in mud, keys askew — lay in the road.
—Angie Orellana Hernandez, Los Angeles Times, 6 Feb. 2024
The interest in this project, as in any project is the potential for long-term success (profit) and risk sharing if anything goes askew during the process.
—Phillip Molnar, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 May 2023
Daniel Ek, Spotify’s CEO, publicly communicated the market assumptions that steered the Swedish tech giant askew.
—Rod Berger, Forbes, 24 Jan. 2023
Word History
Etymology
probably from a- entry 1 + skew

First Known Use
1565, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of askew was in 1565
See more words from the same year


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angle (redirected from angles)
Also found in: Dictionary, Thesaurus, Medical, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia.
Related to angles: Adjacent Angles
angle
1. noun An agenda or aim. In this usage, "angle" is preceded by a noun, pronoun, or article.
You never used to have any interest in the family business. What's your angle here?
Todd seems very disingenuous to me, so I always assume that he's got an angle.
You never do anything out of the goodness of your heart, so why are you here? What's your angle?
2. noun An understanding or interpretation of something. In this usage, "angle" is preceded by a noun, pronoun, or article.
That author has a really interesting angle on World War II.
Carly actually witnessed the accident, so you should get her angle on it.
You sat through the whole board meeting, so what your angle on it? What direction do you think they will go in?
3. verb To fish with a line and hook. (A fishing hook was previously called an "angle.")
My father is out angling on the lake today.
You're angling today? Ugh, that's boring, I'm staying home!
Look at all the fish I caught down at the beach today! Highly recommend angling on a Saturday morning.
4. verb To pursue an agenda or aim, usually subtly or deceptively.
What exactly are you angling at? Just say it!
With all the late nights he's spent at the office recently, I think Bruce is angling for a promotion
Todd seems very disingenuous to me, so I always assume that he's angling for one thing or another.
5. verb To put forth a particular (often biased) view or interpretation of something.
Don't listen to my mother, she always angles her stories in a way that makes me the villain.
He's just angling things so that it seems like his company is the only solution to our problems—it's just a sales tactic.
Hey, I did nothing wrong here, so don't angle this to make me the bad guy!
angle at (something)
To plan or scheme to get or achieve something; to try to get something in an indirect or roundabout way. (Usually used in the continuous tense.)
We've been angling at securing a contract with a major development company from the Middle East for the last few months.
What exactly are you angling at? If it's a pay raise, you can just forget about it.
I know Phil's angling at a day off, but we're just too short-staffed right now.
See also: angle
angle for (something)
To plan or scheme to get or achieve something; to try to get something in an indirect or roundabout way. (Usually used in the continuous tense.)
We've been angling for a contract with a major development company from the Middle East for the last few months.
What exactly are you angling for? If it's a pay raise, you can just forget about it.
I know Phil's angling for a day off, but we're just too short-staffed right now.
See also: angle, for
angle for farthings
obsolete To beg out of a prison window with a receptacle of some kind, such as a box or cup on a string, like an angler trying to catch fish. Primarily heard in UK.
Imagine the days when prisons looked out onto public streets, with the prisoners shouting down at you or angling for farthings.
Just be glad you don't have to angle for farthings, sonny! Previous generations of criminals had it much harder than you!
Back when this was still an active prison, people living in the neighborhood were constantly subject to prisoners angling for farthings.
See also: angle, farthing, for
angle of attack
The position of an airplane as it moves through the air.
What is our angle of attack, Captain? Are we going to be able to land this plane as planned?
Keep the nose up, good, good. Yes, this is a fine angle of attack.
Now, just be mindful to avoid having too high an angle of attack.
See also: angle, attack, of
angle off
To move at a particular angle, rather than in a straight line.
You need to angle off to the left, to avoid hitting those rocks.
Whoa, angle off this way so you don't hit the door frame.
No, you're still over the line between parking spaces. Try backing in again, but, this time, angle off more to the right.
See also: angle, off
don't drive faster than your guardian angel can fly
A warning that one will put their life in serious danger if they drive above the speed limit. (A guardian angel is an angel or other supernatural being believed to be appointed to protect, guide, or otherwise watch over a particular individual.)
I know you're excited to have your license, honey, but please be careful. Don't drive faster than your guardian angel can fly.
Please adhere to the posted speed limits, and, above all, don't drive faster than your guardian angel can fly!
As Elliot's speed limit crept up to triple digits, all I could think as I clutched the armrests was, "Don't drive faster than your guardian angel can fly."
See also: angel, can, drive, faster, fly, guardian
guardian angel
1. An angel or other supernatural being who is appointed to protect, guide, or otherwise watch over a particular individual.
You're lucky to be alive after that accident! You must have a guardian angel!
I know I have a guardian angel because I came back from the war without a scratch, and most of my friends weren't so lucky.
I know you're excited to have your license, honey, but please be careful. Don't drive faster than your guardian angel can fly.
2. A person who protects, guides, or otherwise looks after the welfare of someone.
Uncle John became my guardian angel after my parents died, always making sure I had everything I needed.
Your godparents are supposed to serve as your guardian angels, should your parents become incapacitated.
I do appreciate how you've always been like a guardian angel to my kids, especially when they felt like they couldn't talk to me or their dad.
See also: angel, guardian
know all the angles
To know every means, opportunity, or stratagem one can employ in order to reach or attain one's goal.
These big corporations hire lawyers who know all the angles to avoid culpability.
Once you know all the angles, you can usually reduce your tax bill pretty substantially.
See also: all, angle, know
play (all) the angles
To make use or take advantage of every means or opportunity one can find in order to reach or attain one's goal.
Unless you happen to be incredibly lucky, you have to play all the angles when you're an actor looking for work.
You're not going to get anywhere in this industry if you aren't willing to play the angles.
See also: angle, play
work an angle on (one)
To subject one to a scheme.
That guy's totally working an angle on you, Mom. Do not give him money!
See also: an, angle, on, work
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
angle for something
1. Lit. to fish for something, as with a fishhook and line. Fred was angling for a big bass. lam angling for whatever I can catch.
2. Fig. to scheme or plan to get something; to "fish" for something. She is just angling for a larger settlement from her former employer. Are you angling for a raise in pay?
See also: angle, for
angle off (to or toward something)
to turn or move toward something at an angle. The road angles off to the right. The sailboat angled off toward the direction the wind was blowing.
See also: angle, off
know all the angles
to know all the tricks and artifices of dealing with someone or something. Ask my accountant about taxes. He knows all the angles. Larry knows all the angles. That's how he keeps out of the slammer.
See also: all, angle, know
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
angle
1. n. a person’s understanding of something; someone’s unique perspective on an event or happening. What Bob says is interesting. What’s your angle on this, Molly?
2. n. a scheme or deception; a pivotal or critical feature of a scheme; the gimmick in a scheme or plot. I got a new angle to use in a con job on the old guy.
know all the angles
tv. to know all the tricks and artifices of dealing with someone or something. Ask my mouthpiece about taxes. He knows all the angles.
See also: all, angle, know
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
See also:
angling
leave behind
fill in
fill out
interpret for
identify with
dope out
dope out (something)
doping
swank