off-note

plural off-notes

1. alsoattributivederogatoryThe state of being out of key.

   The only off-note was some rather bready dumplings.

   2 more examples

   In one off-note moment, Mr. Romney talked earlier this month at an event in New Hampshire about an affinity for firing people, just as his campaign was facing attacks that Mr. Romney laid off workers while leading investment firm Bain Capital.

   2012 January 21, Neil King Jr., Sara Murraym, “Romney's Wealth Proves Rich Vein for Rivals”, in Wall Street Journal

   At least it calmed down into a dignified procession by the time it reached the Trocadero, with a silver-clad figure arriving on horseback, although a frenzy of blue lasers beaming across the Eiffel Tower brought another off-note.

   2024 July 26, Arifa Akbar, “Paris Olympics opening ceremony review – soaring ambition deflated by patchy delivery”, in The Guardian, →ISSN