Off the scale

https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/the-english-we-speak_2024/ep-241028

Introduction

An expression that means goes far beyond what is expected. Learn it here.

Transcript

Feifei
Hello and welcome to The English We Speak, where we explain phrases used by fluent English speakers so that you can use them as well. I’m Feifei.

Beth
And I’m Beth. How are you, Feifei?

Feifei
I’m doing great, thank you. What are we learning in this programme, Beth?

Beth
Well, we are learning ‘off the scale’. Now, I heard this when I was chatting to a friend about her holiday. She said that she went to an amazing restaurant and the food was ‘off the scale’.

Feifei
Ah yes. ‘Off the scale’. It’s a funny expression because ‘scale’ makes it sounds like the food is being measured, but that’s not what she meant, I guess.

Beth
Yeah, exactly! She meant that the food was so good that it can’t be rated on a normal scale. So, we use ‘off the scale’ to say something goes beyond what is expected, and it’s usually used in a positive way.

Feifei
For example an influencer said the restaurant around the corner serves the most authentic Chinese food and since then bookings have been off the scale!

Beth
Oo, well maybe I should try and get in there then.

Feifei
Here are some more examples of ‘off the scale’.

Examples
Last week I went to see my local football team beating their closest rivals and the celebrations were off the scale.

My boyfriend cooked me dinner yesterday and he made this amazing roast chicken. It was delicious – it was just off the scale.

Oh yes, I remember passing my driving test. The sense of achievement afterwards, it was just off the scale. It felt amazing.

Beth
So, ‘off the scale’ is used when something is beyond the usual limits, and though it’s normally used positively, it can be negative too. And we can also use it to describe an adjective.

Feifei
Yes. For example, if someone is really annoying you, you might say they’re annoying, or even ‘off the scale annoying’.

Beth
Or maybe you’re so hungry, you could say you’re ‘off the scale hungry’, which means exceptionally hungry!

Feifei
And that’s all from us. We’ll be back next time with another useful English phrase. See you then!

Beth
Bye!