'to fall by the wayside'?

[Mehrgan]

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]

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]

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







Best wishes!

 

[bhaisahab]

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







Best wishes!

Yes.

 

[BobK]

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]

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

not a teacher

 

[BobSmith]

Then they might also "fall off the wagon".

 

[White Hat]

go wayward

 

[BobK]

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]

Thanks to all dear posters!