Episode 296: Off the Rails

This week Shauna and Dan go "off the rails" looking into this interesting phrase. Bonus: The tender lyrics of Ozzy Osbourne, wild sci-fy synopses, and moonwalking in clown shoes

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Bunny Trails: A Word History Podcast
Episode 296: Off the Rails
Record Date: September 28, 2025
Air Date: October 8, 2025

Intro

Shauna:
Welcome to Bunny Trails, a whimsical adventure of idioms and other turns of phrase. 

I’m Shauna Harrison

Dan:
And I’m Dan Pugh

Each week we take an idiom or other turn of phrase and try to tell the story from its entry into the English language, to how it’s used today.

Opening Hook
Have you ever been at a dinner with your extended family, maybe over the holidays or at a reunion, and that one uncle starts talking about all the really odd things. It seems most families have that one person who appears paranoid about every topic. And everything was going so well up to that point, but once he starts bringing up the conspiracy theories, everything goes off the rails.

Meaning
According to the Oxford English Dictionary ‘off the rails’ means:

Quote
out of the proper or normal condition, off the usual or expected course
End Quote
https://www.oed.com/dictionary/rail_n2?tab=meaning_and_use#26949599 

I saw several websites say this originated with the railroad. I should note I am dubious about what the internet says, as none of the reputable etymology sites make this claim. But none of them address the point at all, so that doesn’t mean it is wrong. So in an effort to see if I could independently back up the claims of a railroad tie in, I went in search of the history of the railroad. While transportation based on rails has been around since Ancient Greece, 
https://www.thoughtco.com/history-of-railroad-4059935 
the modern railway as we might think of it does line up with the origins of “off the rails” as an idiomatic expression. Here is a bit from a History Cooperative piece on who invented the railroad:

Quote
The credit for inventing the railroad is often given to George Stephenson, an English engineer who is celebrated for his key role in developing the first successful steam-powered locomotive and laying down the world’s first public railway to use steam locomotives.

Stephenson’s innovations and the establishment of the Stockton and Darlington Railway in 1825 marked the beginning of the railroad as we know it today, setting the foundation for the rapid expansion and evolution of rail transport globally.
End Quote
https://historycooperative.org/who-invented-the-railroad/ 

I checked many other sources as well to ensure George Stephenson was a real person, because I did not want to have another “Who invented the toaster” mishaps. Listen to episode 178 for more on that far-reaching hoax.

Since everything I could cross reference checked out, this means public railways started in the mid-1820s, and the first examples of the phrase I could find also started in the mid-1820s. Which lends credence to the assertions that this phrase came from a train going off the rails and causing mishap. That’s not to say there is evidence of it, but I didn’t find any evidence against it, either. 

Also, the long bunny trails I went down involving early versions of rail transport prior to steam was a fascinating one, and we’ll explore more of the history of rail transport in our Behind the Scenes video for this week. Our Behind the Scenes video airs every Friday on our Patreon, patreon.com/bunnytrailspod

1828
This first example is from a letter dated August 2, 1828 to Sir Walter Scott from his son, Captain Scott. This was also the earliest citation used by the Oxford English Dictionary as well. 

According to Britannica online, “Sir Walter Scott was a Scottish novelist, poet, historian, and biographer who is often considered both the inventor and the greatest practitioner of the historical novel.”
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Walter-Scott 
A few of the works you may have heard of include Ivanhoe, Waverley, and The Heart of Mid-Lothian.

But back to the letter, it was later published in the 1932 work, Sir Walter’s Post-bag, a collection of unpublished letters to and from Sir Walter Scott. The work was written and selected by Wilfred Partington. Here is an excerpt from the 1828 letter from his son:

Quote
The Duke of Cumberland, who has been talking about seeing the Regiment ever since he came to England, has not as yet put his threat into execution; but has sent to say that he will at last do so upon Wednesday next (the day you receive this letter) at Eleven o’clock, and that he will stay and dine with us. I think it would be more agreeable to many in the Regiment if he gave the dinner instead of accepting it. But the honor is great of feeding a Royal Duke. They say here that the Duke of Clarence has gone off at the rail completely; the duties of Lord High Admiral have upset him. 
End Quote
https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.210828/mode/2up?q=%22+gone+off+at+the+rail+completely%22

1842
This next one is from The Comic Annual for 1842, by Thomas Hood. Our phrase appears in the preface as the author is lamenting how his literary fortunes have changed over the past few years, though they seem to be turning around again now. Here is the excerpt:

Quote
The truth is, that I seemed to have said “Amen” to the “Amenities of Literature” - to have deposited my last work on the library-shelf. For a dozen successive years, some annual volume had given token of my literary existence…But, alas! Anno Domini 1840 was unmarked by any such publication! A tie seemed to snap - a spell appeared to be broken - my engine had gone off the rail!
End Quote
https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Comic_Annual/6A1EAQAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=%22gone+off+the+rail%22&pg=PR4&printsec=frontcover 

1882
This next one is from an article in The Bible Class Magazine. The article is titled Hints on Public Speaking and is dated June 1882. Our phrase is found in this paragraph:

Quote
But, as we sometimes see notified on our railway lines that trains are not to go beyond a moderate speed through certain tunnels, so we would say don’t go too fast, don’t say too much at this period of your education. If you in your first remarks attempt to say too much you will assuredly go off the rails.
End Quote
https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Bible_class_magazine_ed_by_C_H_Batem/KEEEAAAAQAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=%22off+the+rails%22&pg=PA254&printsec=frontcover

1928
Here’s an example from the Indian Cases in the Nagpur Judicial Commissioner’s Court dated October 19, 1928. It is the case of  Ramnath v Hazarilal in a foreclosure case. In our paragraph, the defense was trying to make the argument that the case should not have been heard in the first place, and instead dismissed before coming to this court. 

Quote
It will not be out of the place to note here that the Court of first instance really went off the rail when it considered that the decision of the preliminary issues was sufficient to dispose of the case.
End Quote
https://archive.org/details/dli.calcutta.06268/mode/2up?q=%22off+the+rail%22

1939 
Here’s yet another example from the 1939 book, That Which is Hidden, by Robert Hitchens. Here’s an excerpt that uses the phrase, and then gives a little more detail to explain what it means to a character that doesn’t quite understand. 

Quote
And though I suppose she has been a good deal what one calls spoilt by people all her life because of her charm she’s never gone off the rails.
What’s that?
The rails? Well, I mean she’s never mixed herself up in anything beastly. You know what I mean.
End Quote
https://www.google.com/books/edition/That_which_is_Hidden/JOZLAQAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=%22off+the+rails%22&pg=PA438&printsec=frontcover 

1965
One more before the break. This one comes from a 1965 translation of a 1962 French novel, The Mechanical Pianos by Henri François Rey. Here is a sentence that I think many of us will feel in our souls:

Quote
… his thoughts and sensations had run off the rails. (Exactly the right phrase. I’m running off the rails. My images are running off the rails. Just as they begin to run smoothly, and I imagine they are on the point of forming a coherent and interpretable whole, they suddenly run off the rails and break up.
End Quote
https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Mechanical_Pianos/EsxAAQAAIAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=%22off+the+rails%22&dq=%22off+the+rails%22&printsec=frontcover 

With that, it’s time to move to our more modern uses but first we need to say thank you to our sponsors. 

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Modern Uses

1980
We’ll start our modern uses in 1980, with a song by John Michael Osbourne. If you like early heavy metal or classic rock, you’ve likely heard the song Crazy Train, but ‘Ozzy’ Osbourne. It is from his debut solo album Blizzard of Ozz. Here is the opening verse and into the first chorus:

Quote
Crazy, but that's how it goes
Millions of people living as foes
Maybe it's not too late
To learn how to love and forget how to hate

Mental wounds not healing
Life's a bitter shame

I'm going off the rails on a crazy train
I'm going off the rails on a crazy train
End Quote
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMDFv5m18Pw 

1999
She Believes In Me by Joe Cocker is a soft rock/pop song off the 1999 album No Ordinary World. Our phrase opens the chorus, though I’ll start with the first verse and move to the chorus here:

Quote
I'm tossing and turning and I can't get to sleep
Got something on my mind I just can't release
Then she whispers so softly that she believes in me

If I let her down and tried to disguise it
She always see's through it always replies that
No matter what I do she believes in me

All the times I failed gone slightly off the rails
She's there to remind me she believes in me
When it all goes wrong and I feel I'm on my own
She's there to remind me she believes in me
End Quote
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8XlWVhfF5_I

2003
Going Off the Rails: Global Capital and the Crisis of Legitimacy is a 2003 book by John Plender. Plender, at the time of writing this book, was a senior editorial writer and columnist at the Financial Times and a regular current affairs broadcaster for the BBC and Channel Four. So at least he has the correct background to give context to this book’s subject. Here’s the synopsis from the publisher:

Quote
In this thought-provoking work, writer and journalist John Plender explores the model of capitalism advocated by English-speaking countries and asks the following pertinent questions:
Why are developing countries financing the world's richest economy, instead of the other way round?
How have the markets come to appear so unstable?
What is causing the erosion of the wealth creation process? and
Is the conventional view of this model actually correct?
The capitalist model was developed in the 19th century and recent events have shown the difficulties of adapting this to the demands of the 21st century, in which human and social capital are of far greater importance than physical capital. In Going off the Rails, John Plender shows how corporate scandals, inflated boardroom pay, corporate governance disciplines and outmoded accountancy conventions have stretched the Anglo-American model to its limit and what the effects of this might be on globalisation and the capital markets.
End Quote
https://www.google.com/books/edition/Going_off_the_Rails/FlGVgSWjSgUC?hl=en&gbpv=0

I suppose if there are lessons to have been learned from this 2003 book, we haven’t learned them yet. 

2007
Off the Rails is a 2007 book by Matt Jones. It has an interesting concept, though I feel like the synopsis from the publisher doesn’t do a very good job of selling the book. I’m not sure what the hook is that gets me to read it beyond just the interesting concept. But I suppose you might see something I’m missing:

Quote
Many years ago, a highly intelligent race of people living in China discovered a fault with the Earth's natural orbital trajectory which, if left unresolved, would result in the world ending in the mid twenty-first century.

The leaders of these people, whilst travelling the world in search of a solution to the problem, arrived in London. Here they stumbled on the theory that if they created vast but subtle movements across the Earth's surface, then such weight-shifts would have a reasonable bearing on the rate at which the Earth rotates, and thus would alter its orbital path. To provide this weight, a project named 'Commuters' was created, so called due to a misprint of Computers. This was performed by building a railway infrastructure throughout the land and simultaneously inventing a large number of excitingly named, well paid, but virtually harmless jobs. This created both the demand and the mechanism for many people to travel in the same direction at a given time of day.

The group of pioneers were adamant that the real reason for their work should not be made public, yet at the same time the project needed to be monitored. To satisfy this, an organisation called the Littlepeople was created, whereby those directly involved with the project took 'invisible' jobs within society. From these positions, they could easily observe their work without fear of detection themselves. They therefore occupied jobs that are commonly labelled 'working class' or 'unskilled' as they were unlikely to be noticed by the Commuters within these positions.
End Quote
https://www.google.com./books/edition/Off_the_Rails/PJqVbawpdg8C?hl=en&gbpv=0 

2021
Off the Rails is a 2021 feel-good movie starring Jenny Seagrove, Sally Phillips, and Kelly Preston. Here’s the synopsis from the official trailer’s description on youtube:

Quote
Three best friends from college recreate their post-graduation trip across Europe to honor the memory of their friend Anna. Joining Kate, Liz and Cassie is Anna’s 18-year-old daughter Maddie fulfilling her mother’s last wish to have them take this trip with her. When lost passports, train strikes and romantic entanglements get in their way, they put old feuds aside to complete the journey and remind themselves that they are still at their peak.
End Quote
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTtDRrLGifM 

2024
Off the Rails by Brantley Gilbert is a Country song on the 2024 album Tattoos. Here is the chorus:

Quote
Run it off the rails, kick it into four-wheel
Set it on fire, smoke it like a shine still
Coal rolling, you know it, we're banging hells bells
Twin stacking, we back and we yelling, "Hell yeah"
Hell nah, baby, ain't no slowing down
They gonna call the law, then they better do it now
Yeah, all aboard, this crazy train's on twelve
Tonight, we gonna run it off the rails
End Quote
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iXZ02Lyrydk 

2025
The self-help book Off The Rails: A Parent’s Guide To Restoring Trust With Your Teen, Regaining Your Influence & Getting Them Back On Track By Joshua Henry was published in 2025. Here’s the synopsis from the publisher:

Quote
If your teen feels distant, rebellious, or out of control, you’re not alone—and there is a way back. Off The Rails gives you a proven 5-step method to reconnect with your teen, restore trust, and regain your influence—without yelling, punishment, or power struggles.

Parenting coach Joshua Henry guides you with clear tools, heartfelt wisdom, and real solutions to help you rebuild the relationship you’ve been missing. Whether your teen is shutting down, acting out, or completely off track, this book shows you how to become the calm, confident leader they need.

It’s never too late to turn things around.
End Quote
https://www.google.com/books/edition/Off_The_Rails/-jlfEQAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=0 

2025
Off the Rails by BENEE is the third single off the 2025 album Ur an Angel I’m Just Particles. In an interview with readdork.com, BENEE describes the song thusly:

Quote
“It’s an aggressive, angry, chaotic product of my navigating the current state of the world and channeling my existential dread. It’s feminine rage—sick of being pushed around and embracing the chaos.”
End Quote
https://readdork.com/news/benee-off-the-rails-anthem/

Here is the second chorus:
Quote
I'm off the rails, think I might fall apart
And I'm crazy now, but it got dark
Can you light the fuse?
Think I might fall apart
I'm off the rails, had to restart
End Quote
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVnSI84fGqY 


Wrap Up
I think many folks feel a sense of rage at the injustices of the world right now, so BENEE’s particular flavor of rage hits just right. It feels like many things have gone off the rail recently across the world, from wars and genocide, to a resurgence facism and dwindling rights for minorities, the LGBT+ community, and women in general. This phrase, off the rails, seems poignant in its simplicity. And I imagine we will continue to see its popularity soar in the near future. 

Dan:
That’s about all we have for today. If you have any thoughts on the show, or pop culture references we should have included, 
reach out to us on Patreon, patreon.com/bunnytrailspod or comment on our website bunnytrailspod.com

Shauna:
It’s poll time!

Recently posed this question to our patrons: You've lost a bet. Would you rather have to wear clown shoes for a day, or wear clown make-up for a day?

Shoes beats make up roughly 60% to 40%, but there are great reasons on both sides of the discussion. 

JGP tackles the make up side:
Quote
I'd have to choose the makeup since due to my lack of coordination I fear that if I had to wear clown shoes I would trip so often I would be a danger to not only myself but everyone and everything around me.
End Quote

While Jan comes down on the shoes side:
Quote
Going the less creepy route and taking the shoes.
End Quote

Dan:
Cheryl and I are of the same mind initially, though when forced we have different allowances. Here is Cheryl’s take:

Quote
Neither is great. I'm clumsy enough without clown shoes but that's slightly better than having an itchy face for weeks.
End Quote

Personally, I abhor both of these options. On the one hand, I generally dislike wearing shoes. And big, floppy shoes sound awful. But on the other hand, clown makeup is creepy. But of the two, I think I'll wear the clown make up, but make sure I add a big red nose and a silly wig so no one thinks I'm just an Insane Clown Posse superfan or anything. 

Shauna:
I’m very clumsy and very, very not into clowns… so I think I’d just have to win the bet. At the end, I suppose, I’d go with the shoes and just shuffle a lot. 

As a reminder, our silly polls mean absolutely nothing and are not scientifically valid. And patrons of all levels, including our free tiers, can take part. Head over to patreon.com/bunnytrailspod to take this week’s poll!

Outro 

Shauna:
Thanks for joining us. We’ll talk to you again next week. Until then remember, 

Together:
Words belong to their users.