off the beam

Idioms  

1. Off course, on the wrong track, as in He's way off the beam with that argument. This colloquial term and its antonym, on the beam, meaning “on the right track,” allude to directing aircraft by means of radio beams. [Colloquial; mid-1900s]

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Example Sentences

And yet Campbell still kicked off the beam run with a 9.850.

From Los Angeles Times

But China’s Zhou Yaqin was the top qualifier for the balance beam final and Biles fell off the beam to miss out on a medal for the first time in Paris.

From BBC

After falling off the beam during the event final Monday at Bercy Arena, Biles settled for fifth place on balance beam, ending her streak of consecutive Olympic medals in the event.

From Los Angeles Times

Bad luck struck again for Lee as one of her feet slipped off the beam on the last skill of a triple acrobatic series and she crashed hard onto the mat.

From Los Angeles Times

Simone Biles fell off the beam to miss out on a medal for the first time at the Paris Olympics as Alice d'Amato took gold.

From BBC