The American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms

by Christine Ammer

  out of one’s way → See GO OUT OF ONE’S WAY; also, OUT OF THE WAY.

  out of order 1. Not functioning well, not operating properly or at all, as in The oil burner is out of ­order again. [Mid-1500s] 2. Unsuitable, inappropriate, as in Her comments about the management were out of order. Also see OUT OF LINE, def. 1. 3. Not following parliamentary procedure, as in The chair called him out of order.

  out of phase Also, out of sync. In an unsynchronized or uncorrelated way. For example, Inventory control and shipping are out of phase, so we can’t rely on their figures, or The lights are out of sync and keep flashing at random. For dates, see the antonym IN PHASE.

  out of place Not in the proper situation, not belonging; inappropriate for the circumstances or location. For example, A high school graduate, she felt out of place among all these academics with ­advanced degrees, or This velvet sofa is out of place on the porch. This idiom uses place in the sense of “a fitting position.” [First half of 1800s]

  out of pocket 1. Lacking money; also, having suffered a financial loss, as in We can’t go; I’m out of pocket right now. William Congreve had it in The Old Bachelor (1693): “But egad, I’m a little out of pocket at present.” [Late 1600s] 2. Referring to actual money spent, as in I had to pay the hotel bill out of pocket, but I know I’ll be reimbursed. This expression sometimes occurs as a hyphenated adjective mainly in the phrase out-of-pocket expenses, as in My out-of-pocket expenses for business travel amounted to more than a thousand dollars. [Late 1800s]

  out of practice No longer used to doing something, no longer adept for lack of doing something, as in Mom hadn’t baked a cake in years—she said she was out of practice. [Late 1800s] Also see IN PRACTICE.

  out of print → See under IN PRINT; also see GO OUT, def. 6.

  out of proportion Also, out of all proportion. Not in proper relation to other things, especially by being the wrong size or amount. For example, This vase looks out of proportion on this small table, or Her emotional response was out of all proportion to the circumstances. The noun proportion means “an agreeable or harmonious relationship of one thing relative to another.” [Early 1700s] The antonym in proportion dates from the late 1600s and also refers either to physical size or appropriate degree, as in The bird’s wings are huge in proportion to its body, or Her willingness to believe him stands in direct proportion to her love for intrigue.

  out of reach → See under IN REACH.

  out of season → See under IN SEASON.

  out of shape → See under IN CONDITION; also, BENT OUT OF SHAPE.

  out of sight 1. Also, out of someone’s sight. Out of the range of vision, as in Stay out of sight while they’re visiting, or Don’t let the baby out of your sight in the yard. [c. 1200] This idiom is also used in the phrase get out of someone’s sight, meaning “go away”; for example, Jean was furious with Bill and told him to get out of her sight at once. 2. Unreasonable, excessive, as in Our bill for the wine was out of sight. [Colloquial; late 1800s] 3. Excellent, superb, as in The graduation party was out of sight. This phrase is also used as an interjection meaning “Wonderful!” as in Do I like it? Out of sight! [Slang; second half of 1900s] 4. out of sight, out of mind. What is absent is soon forgotten, as in I don’t think of them unless they send a Christmas card—out of sight, out of mind, I guess. This phrase has been proverbial since Homer’s time; the earliest recorded use in English was about 1450.

  out of sorts Irritable, grouchy, as in Don’t ask him today—he’s out of sorts. This expression also implies that one’s poor spirits result from feeling slightly ill. [Early 1600s] The synonym out of humor, on the other hand, used more in Britain than America, simply means “ill-tempered” or “irritable.” [Mid-1600s]

  out of square → See under ON THE SQUARE.

  out of step → See under IN STEP.

  out of stock → See under IN STOCK.

  out of the blue → See OUT OF A CLEAR BLUE SKY.

  out of the corner of one’s eye Glancing casually or surreptitiously, as in Out of the corner of my eye I saw Justin walking out the door. This expression refers to looking sideways at something rather than directly.

  out of the frying pan into the fire From a bad ­situation to one that is much worse. For example, After Karen quit the first law firm, she went to one with even longer hours—out of the frying pan into the fire. This expression, a proverb in many languages, was first recorded in English in 1528.

  out of the hole → See under IN THE HOLE.

  out of the loop → See under IN THE LOOP.

  out of the mouths of babes Young and inexperienced persons often can be remarkably wise, as in She’s only six but she said, quite rightly, that Harry was afraid of the sitter—out of the mouths of babes, Mother said. This expression is a shortening and revision of expressions in the Old and New Testaments of the Bible. In Psalms 8:2, God ordains strength out of the mouth of babes and sucklings; in Matthew 21:16, praise comes from this source. Later generations changed strength and praise to wisdom.

  out of the ordinary Unusual, uncommon, exceptional, as in The venison they served was certainly out of the ordinary. This expression sometimes, but not always, indicates that something is better than the usual. However, the negative version, nothing out of the ordinary, usually indicates that something is not special or outstanding, as in It was an interesting lecture, but nothing out of the ordinary.

  out of the picture → See IN THE PICTURE.

  out of the question Impossible, not worth considering, as in Starting over again is certainly out of the question. This term uses question to refer to what is being talked or asked about. [c. 1700]

  out of the rain → See COME IN OUT OF THE RAIN.

  out of the running → See under IN THE RUNNING.

  out of the way 1. Not obstructing, hindering, or interfering, as in This chair is out of the way now, so you won’t trip. This phrase also appears in get out of the (or one’s) way, as in Would you please get your coat out of the way? or Get your car out of my way. [Mid-1500s] 2. Taken care of, disposed of, as in I’m glad we got these details out of the way. 3. In a remote location, as in This restaurant is a little out of the way. [Mid-1300s] 4. Unusual, remarkable, as in It was out of the way for him to praise his staff. [Second half of 1500s] 5. Amiss, in error, improper, as in The security guard checked all the locks and saw nothing out of the way. [Early 1200s] Also see GO OUT OF ONE’S WAY.

  out of the window Discarded, tossed out. This term is often used in the phrase go out the window, as in For the town planners past experience seems to have gone out the window. It alludes to unwanted items being hurled out of the window. [First half of 1900s]

  out of the woods Out of difficulties, danger or trouble, as in We’re through the worst of the recession—we’re out of the woods now, or That pneumonia was serious, but Charles is finally out of the woods. This expression, alluding to having been lost in a forest, dates from Roman times; it was first recorded in English in 1792. The British usage is out of the wood.

  out of the woodwork Emerging from obscurity or a place of seclusion. It often is put as come (or crawl) out of the woodwork, as in The candidates for this job were coming out of the woodwork. The expression alludes to insects crawling out of the interior wooden fittings of a house, such as baseboards and moldings. [Colloquial; mid-1900s]

  out of thin air → See INTO THIN AIR.

  out of this world Extraordinary, superb, as in Her carrot cake is out of this world. This colloquial term refers to something too good for this world. [Early 1900s]

  out of touch No longer in contact or communication, as in John and Mark have been out of touch for years, or That speech showed he’s out of touch with his constituency. This metaphoric expression alludes to physical contact. [Late 1800s] Also see IN TOUCH.

  out of town Away from the town or city under consideration; away from home. For example, In his new job Tom will be going out of town nearly every week, or He’s out of town but I’ll have him call you when he gets back. [Lat
e 1300s]

  out of turn 1. Not in the proper order or sequence, as in When her doubles partner began to serve out of turn, their opponents called the umpire. [Late 1800s] 2. In an inappropriate manner or at an ­in­appropriate time, as in I may be out of turn telling you, but shorts are not permitted in the restaurant. [First half of 1900s]

  out of wedlock Of parents not legally married, as in Over the centuries many royal children were born out of wedlock. The noun wedlock, for the state of being married, is rarely heard today except in this phrase, first recorded in 1675; its converse, in wedlock, dates from the 1300s and is even more rarely used.

  out of whack → See under OUT OF KILTER.

  out of whole cloth From pure fabrication or fiction. This expression is often put as cut (or made) out of whole cloth, as in That story was cut out of whole cloth. In the 15th century this expression referred to something fabricated from cloth that ran the full length of the loom. However, by the 1800s it was common practice for tailors to deceive their customers and, instead of using whole cloth, actually make garments from pieced goods. Their ­advertising slogan, “cut out of whole cloth,” thus came to mean “made up, false.”

  out of work Unemployed; also, having no work to do. For example, He lost his job a year ago and has been out of work ever since, or They don’t give her enough assignments—she’s always out of work. Shakespeare used this expression in Henry V (1:2): “All out of work and cold for action.”

  out on a limb In a difficult, awkward, or vulnerable position, as in I lodged a complaint about low salaries, but the people who had supported me left me out on a limb. This expression alludes to an ­animal climbing out on the limb of a tree and then being afraid or unable to retreat. [Late 1800s]

  out on bail Released from custody on the basis of bail being posted, as in The lawyer promised to get him out on bail. This expression alludes to a payment made to the court as surety that the accused will appear for trial.

  out on one’s ear Dismissed, thrown out in disgrace, as in In this company you get only one chance, and if you fail you’re out on your ear. This term alludes to being physically thrown out head first. [Slang; early 1900s]

  out on the town → See ON THE TOWN.

  outs → See INS AND OUTS; ON THE OUTS.

  outset → See AT THE OUTSET.

  outside → In addition to the idioms beginning with OUTSIDE, also see AT MOST (THE OUTSIDE).

  outside of Except for, aside from, as in Outside of a little lipstick, she wore no makeup. [Colloquial; mid-1800s]

  outside the box → See THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX.

  out the window Discarded, disappeared. The analogy is to something being thrown out of a window. It is also put as go out the window. For example, This law will never leave the committee; it’s gone out the window. [Colloquial, mid-1900s]

  out to lunch Not in touch with the real world, crazy; also, inattentive. For example, If he believes that story, he’s really out to lunch, or Anne hasn’t heard a word you said—she’s out to lunch. This ­expression transfers a temporary physical absence for the purpose of eating to a temporary or permanent mental absence. [Slang; mid-1900s]

  out with it Say it, as in Tell us what you really think—out with it! Used as an imperative, this ­idiom uses out in the sense of “public.”

  over → In addition to the idioms beginning with OVER, also see ALL OVER (and entries beginning with ALL OVER); BEND OVER BACKWARDS; BIND OVER; BLOW OVER; BOIL OVER; BOWL OVER; CARRY OVER; CHECK ON (OVER); CHEW THE CUD (OVER); CLOUD OVER; COME OVER; CROSS OVER; CROW OVER; CRY OVER SPILT MILK; DO OVER; DRAW A VEIL OVER; DROP BY (OVER); FALL ALL OVER ONESELF; FORK OVER; FUCK OVER; GET OVER; GET THE ADVANTAGE OF (OVER); GIVE OVER; GLOSS OVER; GO OVER; HAND OVER; HAND OVER FIST; HANG OVER; HASH OVER; HAVE A HOLD OVER; HAVE IT (ALL OVER SOMEONE); HEAD OVER HEELS; HOLD OVER; HONEYMOON IS OVER; IN DEEP (OVER ONE’S HEAD); IT’S ALL OVER WITH; JUMP ALL OVER SOMEONE; KEEL OVER; KEEP WATCH (OVER); KICK OVER THE TRACES; KNOCK FOR A LOOP (OVER WITH A FEATHER); KNOCK OVER; LAY OVER; LOOK LIKE DEATH (WARMED OVER); LOOK OVER; LORD IT OVER; LOSE SLEEP OVER; MAKE OVER; MIND OVER MATTER; MULL OVER; ONCE OVER LIGHTLY; PAPER OVER; PARTY’S OVER; PASS OVER; PICK OVER; PULL OVER; PULL THE WOOL OVER SOMEONE’S EYES; PUT OVER; RAKE OVER THE COALS; RIDE ROUGHSHOD OVER; ROLL OVER; ROOF OVER ONE’S HEAD; RUN ONE’S EYES OVER; RUN OVER; SCOOT OVER; SIGN OVER; SLEEP OVER; SMOOTH OVER; STAND OVER; START OVER; STOP OFF (OVER); TAKE OVER; TALK OVER; THINK OVER; THROW OVER; TIDE OVER; TILL HELL FREEZES OVER; TURN (OVER) IN ONE’S GRAVE; TURN OVER; TURN OVER A NEW LEAF; WALK ALL OVER; WATCH OVER; WATER OVER THE DAM; WIN OVER; WORK OVER.

  over a barrel In a weak or difficult position, as in Once the competitors found a flaw in our product, they had us over a barrel. This slangy expression, first recorded in 1938, supposedly alludes to reviving a drowning victim by placing the body head down over a barrel and rolling it back and forth, so as to empty the lungs of water. The expression survives, although happily the practice does not.

  over again Once more, as in The conductor had them start the symphony over again. [Mid-1500s]

  over against As opposed to, contrasted with, as in Over against the Smiths, the Johnsons were well off. [c. 1500]

  over and above In addition to, besides, as in Over and above travel expenses he was given a daily ­allowance. [Early 1500s]

  over and done with Completed, finished, as in That argument’s over and done with, so drop the subject. This usage is somewhat redundant but more emphatic than OVER WITH. [First half of the 1900s]

  over and over Also, over and over again. Repeatedly, many times, as in I’ve told you over and over that he can’t eat spicy food. [Late 1500s] Also see AGAIN AND AGAIN.

  overboard → See GO OVERBOARD.

  over my dead body In no way, under no circumstances, as in Over my dead body will you drop out of high school. This hyperbolic expression is often used jokingly. [Early 1800s]

  over one’s head 1. To a position higher than another’s, as in She was furious when her assistant was promoted over her head. Similarly, go over someone’s head means “appeal to a higher authority,” as in Since she couldn’t help me, I decided to go over her head and talk to her supervisor. [Mid-1500s] 2. Also, above one’s head . Beyond one’s understanding or competence, as in The math required to complete these figures is way over my head. [Early 1600s] For a synonym, see OUT OF ONE’S DEPTH. Also see IN DEEP (OVER ONE’S HEAD).

  over the edge Insane, as in I think he’s gone over the edge. This expression alludes to the edge of sanity. [1920s]

  over the hill Past one’s prime, as in I’m a little over the hill to be playing contact sports. This term, alluding to a climber who has reached a mountaintop and is now descending, has been used figuratively for the decline caused by aging since the mid-1900s.

  over the hump Past the most difficult part, as in She’s over the hump with her dissertation; she’ll soon be done. This expression alludes to a barrier that impedes progress. [Colloquial; 1920s]

  over the top 1. Surpassing a goal or quota, as in The new salesmen are excellent; they were over the top within the first six months. [Mid-1900s] 2. Over the parapet of a military trench, as in The lieutenant sent fresh troops over the top. This usage dates from World War I. 3. Extreme, outrageous, as in This comedian’s style goes over the top. [Slang; late 1900s]

  over the transom Unasked for, unsolicited. The term comes from publishing, where it describes a manuscript simply sent to a firm in hopes of arousing its interest. It has persisted even though few offices still have a transom, a small opening at the top of a door used for ventilation, and unsolicited manuscripts usually come through the mail or over the Internet rather than being thrown up through a window. [Colloquial, first half of 1900s] Also see SLUSH PILE.

  over with Done, finished, as in I’ll be glad when exams are over with. [Colloquial; second half of 1900s] Also see OVER AND DONE WITH.

  owl → See NIGHT OWL.

  own → In addition to the idioms beginning with OWN, also see AFRAID OF ONE�
��S OWN SHADOW; ­AFTER ONE’S OWN HEART; BEAT SOMEONE AT HIS OR HER OWN GAME; BLOW ONE’S OWN HORN; CALL ONE’S OWN; COME INTO (ONE’S OWN); DIG ONE’S OWN GRAVE; DO ONE’S (OWN) THING; DOSE OF ONE’S OWN MEDICINE; GET (ONE’S OWN) BACK; GET ONE’S (OWN) WAY; GO ONE’S (OWN) WAY; HOLD ONE’S OWN; IN ONE’S (OWN) INTEREST; IN ONE’S OWN BACKYARD; IN ONE’S OWN RIGHT; IN ONE’S OWN WORLD; KEEP ONE’S OWN COUNSEL; KNOW ONE’S OWN MIND; LEAVE TO SOMEONE’S OWN DEVICES; MIND OF ONE’S OWN; MIND ONE’S OWN BUSINESS; OF ONE’S OWN ­ACCORD; ON ONE’S OWN; ON ONE’S OWN ACCOUNT; ON ONE’S OWN TIME; PADDLE ONE’S OWN CANOE; PAY BACK IN SOMEONE’S OWN COIN; PAY ONE’S (OWN) WAY; PICK ON (SOMEONE YOUR OWN SIZE); PULL ONE’S (OWN) WEIGHT; SIGN ONE’S OWN DEATH WARRANT; STEW IN ONE’S OWN JUICE; TAKE INTO ONE’S OWN HANDS; UNDER ONE’S OWN STEAM; WRITE ONE’S OWN TICKET.

  own person, be one’s Also, be one’s own man or woman. Be independent, be responsible for oneself. For example, We can’t tell Jerry what to do—he’s his own person. Chaucer used this idiom in Troilus and Cressida: “I am my own woman, well at ease.” [Late 1300s]

  own medicine → See DOSE OF ONE’S OWN MEDICINE.

  own up Confess, make a full admission, as in Come on, Tim, you’d better own up that you lost the car keys. This idiom uses the verb own in the sense of “acknowledge.” [Colloquial; mid-1800s]

  oyster → See WORLD IS ONE’S OYSTER.

  p

  p → See MIND ONE’S P’S AND Q’S.

  pace → See CHANGE OF PACE; KEEP PACE; PUT SOMEONE THROUGH HIS OR HER PACES; SET THE PACE; SNAIL’S PACE.

  pack → In addition to the idioms beginning with PACK, also see JOE SIX-PACK; SEND SOMEONE ABOUT HIS OR HER BUSINESS (PACKING).

  pack a punch Also, pack a wallop. 1. Be capable of a forceful blow; also, deliver a forceful blow. For example, Knowing Bob could pack a wicked punch, they were careful not to anger him, or She swung her handbag, really packing a wallop. [Colloquial; c. 1920] 2. Have a powerful effect, as in That vodka martini packed a wallop. Thomas Wolfe had this figurative usage in a letter (c. 1938): “I think my play, The House, will pack a punch.”