'to fall by the wayside'?

Mehrgan · Apr 2, 2012

Hi all,
I'd be really happy if somebody could help me with this. Could the expression above also mean 'to be perverted'? Is there any idiom used for somebody who's been influenced in a harmful way, say, by their classmates, friends and so on? I heard someone saying, '...lose their way...' which seems to be wrong.

Thanks a lot!

bhaisahab · Apr 2, 2012

Mehrgan said:
Hi all,
I'd be really happy if somebody could help me with this. Could the expression above also mean 'to be perverted'? Is there any idiom used for somebody who's been influenced in a harmful way, say, by their classmates, friends and so on? I heard someone saying, '...lose their way...' which seems to be wrong.

Thanks a lot!

No, it doesn't mean "perverted" in any context. We often say that somebody has been "led astray" to mean that they have been influenced in a harmful way.

Mehrgan · Apr 2, 2012

Many thanks!
Could 'to be led astray' be used in informal English as well?

Best wishes!

bhaisahab · Apr 2, 2012

Mehrgan said:
Many thanks!
Could 'to be led astray' be used in informal English as well?

Best wishes!

Yes.

BobK · Apr 2, 2012

bhaisahab said:
Yes.

:up: But note that the two expressions depend on different sorts of way or path. 'Fall by the wayside' is a reference to the Parable of the Sower (Mark 3; 3-4).

b

JMurray · Apr 2, 2012

When someone is led astray they often "leave the straight and narrow" and might "go off the rails" altogether.

not a teacher

BobSmith · Apr 2, 2012

Then they might also "fall off the wagon".

White Hat · Apr 2, 2012

go wayward

BobK · Apr 2, 2012

BobSmith said:
Then they might also "fall off the wagon".

Bob knows - but the context of this thread may be thought to suggest that this is just a synonym for being led astray - that falling off the wagon means breaking a period of abstinence from alcohol or some other drug. The metaphorical 'wagon' is a temperance wagon.

b

Mehrgan · Apr 2, 2012

Thanks to all dear posters!

'to fall by the wayside'?

Mehrgan

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