1.
to miscalculate; for one's calculations or expectations to go wrong
Describes a situation where planned numbers, budgets, or expectations turn out to be wrong due to unforeseen circumstances, throwing off one's plans or financial estimates.
予算の勘定が狂った。
The budget calculations went wrong.
雨で勘定が狂ってしまった。
The rain threw off my plans.
思わぬ出費で勘定が狂い、旅行を諦めた。
An unexpected expense threw off my calculations, and I gave up on the trip.
An idiomatic expression where 勘定 refers to calculations or expectations (not just a restaurant bill), and 狂う means to go off course or go wrong. Used when planned numbers, budgets, or expectations fail to match reality.
USAGE:
The subject is 勘定, and the verb 狂う is intransitive. The expression describes the situation rather than blaming a person — it is the calculations themselves that go awry.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 予算の勘定が狂う: budget calculations go wrong
- 見積もりの勘定が狂う: estimates go off
- すっかり勘定が狂う: for calculations to go completely off
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 計算が合わない: the numbers don't add up — focuses on the math being wrong
- 目算が外れる: for one's estimate to miss the mark — similar but uses a different metaphor
- 当てが外れる: for one's expectations to be disappointed — broader, not limited to calculations