You know that feeling. You walk into a room, look at a framed photo on the wall, and your eye starts twitching because the left corner is a quarter-inch lower than the right. It’s not just "crooked." It’s askew.
Most people encounter this word in one of two ways. Either they’re reading a classic novel where a character's hat is sitting at a jaunty, slightly off-kilter angle, or they’ve stumbled upon one of Google’s most famous "Easter eggs." If you type "askew" into a search bar right now, the entire page literally tilts. It’s a clever bit of CSS coding that perfectly illustrates the definition without using a single word. But beyond the digital prank, the word has a surprisingly deep history and a very specific place in the English language.
It’s not just about things being messy.
The actual definition of askew
Basically, askew describes something that isn't straight or level. If you want to get technical, the Merriam-Webster dictionary defines it as "out of line" or "to one side." It’s an adverb and an adjective. You can say your glasses are sitting askew, or you can look askew at a suspicious-looking sandwich.
Language experts generally agree the word popped up around the mid-16th century. It likely comes from a combination of the prefix "a-" (meaning "on" or "in") and the Old Norse word skag-, which relates to sticking out or deviating. Think of it as the linguistic cousin to words like "skew" or "skewed."
It’s a specific kind of crookedness. If a tower is leaning, it’s tilted. If a line is wiggly, it’s crooked. But if your necktie is just a bit off-center after a long meeting? That’s askew. It implies a deviation from a state that should be orderly.
That Google Easter egg (and why it matters)
Honestly, Google's "askew" trick is one of the most enduring bits of internet culture. It’s been around for years, and it still works. When you search it, the developers use a transform: rotate property in the site's code to shift the entire viewport by about one degree.
Why does this matter for SEO or tech? Because it shows how deeply we associate words with visual feedback. Google didn't just give you a definition; they gave you an experience. It’s the same energy as searching for "do a barrel roll" or "recursion."
But there's a psychological side to this, too. Seeing a screen that is askew triggers a minor "itch" in the brain for many people. This brings us to the concept of symmetry preference. Humans are evolutionarily wired to find symmetry attractive and "correct." When something is askew, it signals that something is potentially broken, neglected, or intentionally altered.
When to use askew vs. crooked vs. awry
People mix these up constantly.
Crooked usually implies something that was never straight to begin with, like a winding mountain road or a politician with a shady past.
Askew is usually about placement. A picture frame is askew. A rug is askew. It was straight once, but now it’s drifted.
Awry, on the other hand, is usually used for abstract things. Your plans go awry. Your life goes awry. You wouldn't usually say your "painting is awry" unless the entire situation of hanging the painting turned into a disaster.
I once spoke with a professional interior stager who told me that "the secret to a home feeling lived-in but high-end is keeping everything almost perfectly straight, but leaving one throw blanket slightly askew." It creates a sense of "human presence." If everything is 100% level, the room feels like a hospital or a computer render. We need a little bit of "askew" to feel at home.
The emotional weight of looking "askew" at someone
There is a figurative way to use this word that people often forget. To look askew at someone is to look at them with disapproval, suspicion, or scorn.
Imagine you're at a formal dinner and someone starts eating peas with their fingers. You don't just look at them; you look askew. It’s a sideways glance. It suggests that your perspective on that person has shifted away from the "straight and narrow" path of respect. It’s a powerful bit of imagery—your very gaze is physically deviating because you can't look at the situation directly without feeling annoyed.
Specific examples in literature and pop culture
Authors love this word because it’s evocative. In The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald uses descriptions of physical disorder to mirror the moral decay of his characters. While he might not use "askew" on every page, the concept is everywhere—hats tipped the wrong way, cars in ditches, lives sliding off the rails.
In the world of fashion, the "askew" look is often intentional. Think of the "heroin chic" era of the 90s or the "indie sleaze" revival. It’s about looking like you just rolled out of bed, with your buttons done up wrong and your eyeliner smudged. Here, being askew is a form of rebellion against the "straight-edged" expectations of society.
A quick check: Is your life askew?
Sometimes we use physical cues to realize our mental state is slipping.
- The Desktop Test: Is your computer monitor tilted? Are your desktop icons a mess?
- The Mirror Test: Are your collars always uneven?
- The Home Test: Do you walk past that one crooked tile every day and just... let it be?
Often, our physical surroundings reflect our internal bandwidth. If you notice everything around you is becoming increasingly askew, it might be time for a "leveling" session—both literally and figuratively.
Actionable ways to fix things that are askew
If you're a perfectionist, the word "askew" is probably your nightmare. Here is how you actually deal with it in the real world without losing your mind.
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For physical objects like picture frames, don't just eye-ball it. Use a spirit level app on your phone. Most smartphones have an accelerometer that is surprisingly accurate. If a frame keeps slipping, put a tiny bit of blue-tack or a rubber bumper on the bottom corners. This increases friction against the wall and stops the "askew" creep caused by vibrations from people walking or doors closing.
In writing, avoid using "askew" too much. It’s a "flavor" word. Use it once in an essay, and it’s sophisticated. Use it three times, and you sound like you’re trying too hard to be a 19th-century novelist.
In your digital life, if a website looks askew and it's not a Google Easter egg, it's probably a rendering issue. Try clearing your cache or checking the site in a different browser. Most of the time, an "askew" website is just a victim of a broken <div> tag or a CSS conflict.
The next time you see something that isn't quite right, you'll have the exact word for it. It’s not just "wrong." It’s not just "slanted." It’s askew. And sometimes, that little bit of tilt is exactly what makes a thing interesting.