off the beam

In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.

Meaning · English

Crazy; insane.

Register: slang

Where it’s used: Used American English

Examples

“They all thought I was off the beam.” He tapped his temple with a long, shaking finger. “But they come around.”

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “off the beam” mean?

Crazy; insane.

Is “off the beam” formal or informal?

off the beam is generally slang.