Meaning: To act in an uncontrolled, chaotic, or unmanageable manner; to lose control over one’s behavior or actions.
Usage in Example Sentences:
- “After his business failed, he started drinking heavily and went off the rails.”
- “The project was going well until the last few weeks, when everything seemed to go off the rails.”
- “Her behavior in class has gone off the rails recently.”
Origin: This idiom is rooted in the railway industry. When a train “goes off the rails,” it literally leaves the tracks, which causes a loss of direction and control. Over time, the phrase evolved to describe people or situations that lose structure or stability, becoming chaotic or erratic.
