wrong direction; unexpected direction
Used when something goes or points in a direction different from what was intended or expected. Often implies a mistake or an unforeseen turn of events.
話があらぬ方向にそれてしまった。
The conversation went off in an unexpected direction.
ボールがあらぬ方向に飛んでいった。
The ball flew off in the wrong direction.
Standard spelling using the common kanji 方向.
Rare kanji spelling using 有らぬ; the kana form is much more common.
Formed from あら, the irrealis form of ある, and the attributive negative auxiliary ぬ, followed by 方向. Here あらぬ means “other than expected” or “wrong.”