Choose the correct meaning of the given idiom/phrase from the options:
"to be off base"
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: C
Explanation
Correct Answer
To be wrong or mistaken
Explanation
The question asks for the correct meaning of the common idiom "to be off base."
This phrase originates from the American sport of baseball. In baseball, a runner must stay physically touching a base to remain safe. If a runner steps away or is caught "off base" by the opposing team's pitcher, they are in a highly vulnerable position and can easily be tagged out because they have made a tactical error.
Over time, this sporting phrase transitioned into everyday English as an idiom. When you tell someone that their idea, statement, or guess is "off base," it means they are completely incorrect, misinformed, or mistaken about a fact.
Let's look at why the other choices do not fit:
To be on the right track is a completely opposite idiom, meaning to progress in a way that will lead to success or the correct answer.
To be confused means to be unable to think clearly or understand something. While being mistaken can come from confusion, "off base" refers specifically to being objectively wrong rather than just feeling puzzled.
To change your mind means to adopt a different opinion or decision than you originally had.
Because the literal definition of the idiom means to hold an incorrect or mistaken view, Option 3 is the correct choice.
Key Points
To build your vocabulary for competitive exams, try to pair sports-related idioms with their everyday meanings.
For instance, "off base" means to be completely wrong or mistaken. Similarly, "touch base" means to briefly make contact or renew communication with someone, and "right off the bat" means to do something immediately from the very beginning. Knowing these baseball origins helps you guess the correct answer even if you haven't seen the exact idiom before.