The sudden movement of the ship knocked them both off balance.off-balanceˌoff-ˈbalance, off balance adjective [not before noun] 
The sudden movement of the ship knocked them both off balance.2 catch/throw somebody off-balance to surprise or shock someone because they are not prepared for something that happens: I was thrown off-balance by some of the more difficult questions I was asked.
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- Tucker made a spectacular off-balance catch to end the game.
- But Abdur-Rahim missed an off-balance shot and Jelani McCoy grabbed the loose ball.
- He dragged her backwards and off-balance, and then kept her moving so that she couldn't recover.
- I was off-balance, falling forward, lurching with giant strides, certain that the next step would end in a nosedive.
- She was off-balance - nothing she could do to prevent herself from turning towards him as his grip pulled her in.
- Simon followed his own miss with an off-balance floater to tie the score at 75-75.
- Their lead swelled to 46-41 when Jamar Curry made an off-balance jumper with 17: 06 left.
- Unfortunately, Joan catches Victor slightly off-balance and he falls against a wall, bruising his arm slightly.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY The sudden movement of the ship knocked them both off balance.
1in an unsteady position and likely to fallthrow/knock/push etc somebody off-balance The sudden movement of the ship knocked them both off balance. The sudden movement of the ship knocked them both off balance.2 catch/throw somebody off-balance to surprise or shock someone because they are not prepared for something that happens: I was thrown off-balance by some of the more difficult questions I was asked.