throw/knock (someone) off (his/her) stride
idiom
chiefly US
: to cause (someone) to be unable to continue walking or running steadily.
Another runner bumped into him and threw/knocked him off his stride.
—often used figurativelyShe was surprised and thrown off stride by the unexpected question.
Cite this Entry
“Throw/knock (someone) off (his/her) stride.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/throw%2Fknock%20%28someone%29%20off%20%28his%2Fher%29%20stride. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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