Текст книги "Словарь американских идиом: 8000 единиц"

Автор книги: Adam Makkai

Соавторы: Maya Glinberg
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[on top of the world] or [sitting on top of the world] also (Southern) [sitting on high cotton]{adj. phr.}, {informal} Feeling pleased and happy; feeling successful. •/John was on top of the world when he found out that he got into college./ •/When Ruth won first prize in the contest, she felt as though she was sitting on top of the world./ •/The girls were sitting on high cotton because their basketball team had won the trophy./ Compare: FLYING HIGH, WALK ON AIR.

[on trial]{adv.} or {adj. phr.} 1. For testing or trying out for a time before making a decision. •/I was lucky that I had bought the machine on trial because I didn’t like it and was able to return it./ •/Mother bought a new dishwasher on trial and was trying it out before deciding whether to keep it./ 2. In a court being tried for a crime before a judge or jury. •/John White was on trial for murder./ •/Mary was on trial before the Student Committee for spoiling school property./

[on words] See: PLAY ON WORDS.

[on your life] See: NOT ON YOUR LIFE.

[open] See: EYES OPEN, THROW OPEN.

[open and aboveboard]{adj. phr.} Honest. •/Jacob felt that the firm he was doing business with wasn’t entirely open and aboveboard./

[open and shut] See: CUT AND DRIED.

[open arms] See: RECEIVE WITH OPEN ARMS.

[open-door policy]{n. phr.} A policy that states that newcomers are welcome to join the company, firm, or country in question. •/During the nineteenth century the United States had an open-door policy regarding immigration./

[open fire]{v. phr.} To begin shooting. •/The big warship turned its guns toward the enemy ship and opened fire./ •/When the policeman called to the robber to stop, he turned and suddenly opened fire./

[openhanded]{adj.} Generous; liberal. •/Although not wealthy himself, Bob was always very openhanded with those who needed help./

[open heart]{n.} 1. No hiding of your feelings; frankness; freedom. •/She spoke with an open heart of her warm feelings for her pupils./ •/She told her troubles with an open heart./ Compare: HEART ON ONE’S SLEEVE. 2. Kindness; generosity. •/She contributed to the fund with an open heart./ •/Mr. Jones has an open heart for underprivileged children./ Compare: OPEN ONE’S HEART.

[open its doors]{v. phr.} 1. To allow someone or something to enter or join; become open. •/That college was started for women only, but a few years ago it opened its doors to men./ 2. To begin doing business; open. •/Proffitts Department Store is having a birthday sale; it first opened its doors fifty years ago this month./ Contrast: CLOSE ITS DOORS.

[open letter]{n. phr.} A public message in the form of a letter addressed to a particular person or to a group. •/There was an open letter to the president of the United States in today’s morning paper./

[open market]{n. phr.} Goods or securities available for purchase by all. •/The stocks of certain companies are on the open market./

[open marriage]{n. phr.} An arrangement by mutual agreement between husband and wife whereby they are both allowed to have extramarital affairs. •/Chances are the open marriage arrangement they had didn’t work out too well so they are getting a divorce./

[open-minded]{adj.} Having no dogmatic or biased views on matters of theory, religion, politics, etc. •/Fred is easy to talk to about anything; he is a highly intelligent and open-minded person./

[open one’s eyes] or [open up one’s eyes]{v. phr.} To make a person see or understand the truth; make a person realize; tell a person what is really happening or what really exists. •/Mary didn’t believe that her cousin could be mean until the cousin opened Mary’s eyes by scratching and biting her./ •/John’s eyes were opened up to the world of nature when he visited his grandfather’s farm./ Compare: EYES OPEN, WISE UP. – [eye opener]{n.} Something that makes you understand the truth. •/Pam’s first visit to school was a real eye-opener./

[open one’s heart]{v. phr.} 1. To talk about your feelings honestly; confide in someone. •/After going around worrying, Mary opened her heart to her mother./ •/John felt much better after he opened his heart to Betty./ 2. To be sympathetic to; give love or help generously. •/Mrs. Smith opened her heart to the poor little boy./ •/After the moving speech by the UN official, the people opened their hearts to the poor people of India./ Compare: OPEN HEART, WEAR ONE’S HEART ON ONE’S SLEEVE.

[open onto]{v. phr.} To have a view of. •/Our apartment in Chicago has a set of windows that open onto Lake Michigan./

[open Pandora’s box] See: PANDORA’S BOX.

[open question]{n. phr.} A debatable issue. •/Whether assisted suicide is legal and moral or not is still an open question, recent publicity on the matter notwithstanding./

[open secret]{n.} Something that is supposed to be a secret but that everyone knows. •/It is an open secret that Mary and John are engaged./ •/Who will be appointed as the next president of the college is an open secret./

[open sesame]{n. phr.}, {literary} Immediate means of entrance, or unobstructed access to something. •/Tom mistakenly believed that his wealth would be an open sesame to the world of creative arts./

[open shop]{n. phr.} A factory or firm that employs both union and non-union labor. •/The firm refuses to adopt an open shop policy./ Contrast: CLOSED SHOP.

[open the door]{v. phr.} To allow more action or discussion; give a chance. •/Learning to read and write opens the door to a better job and better living conditions./ •/Raising the tax rates will open the door to more help for older people./ Contrast: CLOSE THE DOOR. Compare: OPEN ITS DOORS.

[open the floodgates]{v. phr.} To let loose an outburst of human activity or emotion. •/It would open the floodgates of anger and discontent if the university raised tuition too soon./

[open up]{v.} 1. To show for the first time; make clear; reveal. •/The story of Helen Keller’s life opened up a whole new world to Mary./ •/Einstein’s theories opened up a whole new area for study./ 2. To make available; present an opportunity; offer. •/The building of the railroad opened up new lands to the pioneers./ •/John opened up a whole new section of the Scrabble board./ 3. {informal} To go faster. •/When they got out on the highway John opened up and drove at 65 miles per hour./ 4. {informal} To begin to shoot. •/When they got close to the enemy lines, they opened up with all they had./ 5. {informal} To begin to talk frankly. •/After John learned to trust Mr. Jones, he opened up and told him how he felt./ 6. To spread out. •/After a while the road opened up and they traveled more quickly./ 7. To become available. •/When she got her college diploma, many new jobs opened up./

[open up one’s eyes] See: OPEN ONE’S EYES.

[opinion] See: MATTER OP OPINION.

[opposite number]{n. phr.} A person occupying the same position as someone in a different group, organization, or country. •/The opposite number of the President of the United States in Germany is the Chancellor of the Federal Republic./

[opposite sex]{n. phr.} The sex different from the one being discussed or mentioned. •/Fred came out and said he was gay, having never had any interest in the opposite sex./

[optional origin]{n.} Stipulation in international commodities contract whereby the seller may ship from either his foreign or his domestic resources. •/Be sure to enter that in the books as an optional origin order./

[orbit] See: GO INTO ORBIT.

[order] See: APPLE-PIE-ORDER, CALL TO ORDER, IN ORDER, IN ORDER TO, IN SHORT ORDER, JUST WHAT THE DOCTOR ORDERED, MADE TO ORDER, OUT OF ORDER, PUT ONE’S HOUSE IN ORDER or SET ONE’S HOUSE IN ORDER, SHORT ORDER COOK, TO ORDER, WALKING PAPERS or WALKING ORDERS.

[order about] or [around]{v. phr.} To dictate arrogantly to someone; domineer. •/Dan orders his younger colleagues around in a most unpleasant way./

[ordinary] See: OUT OF THE ORDINARY.

[or other]{adv.} – Used to emphasize indefinite words or phrases beginning with «some» (as «someone», «something», «somewhere», «somehow», «sometime»). •/Somehow or other, Linda managed to get to the show on time./ •/I’ll think of something or other for the program./ •/She found a beautiful cup and saucer somewhere or other./ •/I’ll get around to cleaning the closets sometime or other./ •/Someone or other will take the letters to the post office./

[or so]{adv.} About; or a little more. •/Mr. Brown will be back in a day or so./ •/The book cost $5 or so./ •/There will be twenty or so people at the party./ Compare: MORE OR LESS.

[other] See: EACH OTHER, EVERY OTHER, GRASS IS ALWAYS GREENER ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE FENCE or GRASS IS ALWAYS GREENER ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE HILL, GO IN ONE EAR AND OUT THE OTHER, LAUGH ON THE WRONG SIDE OF ONE’S MOUTH or LAUGH ON THE OTHER SIDE OF ONE’S MOUTH, ON THE OTHER HAND, OR OTHER, SHOE ON THE OTHER FOOT, SIX OF ONE AND HALF-A-DOZEN OF THE OTHER, THIS AND THAT also THIS, THAT, AND THE OTHER, TURN THE OTHER CHEEK.

[other fish to fry]{n. phr.}, {informal} Other things to do; other plans. •/They wanted John to be the secretary, but he had other fish to fry./ •/Mary was invited to the party but she refused because she had other fish to fry./

[other side of the tracks] See: WRONG SIDE OF THE TRACKS.

[out and about] See: UP AND ABOUT.

[out-and-out]{adj.} Extreme; complete; thorough. •/The candidate was an out-and-out conservative./ •/It was out-and-out robbery to charge twice the usual price for eggs just because they were scarce./ Compare: THROUGH AND THROUGH.

[out at the elbows]{adj. phr.} Poorly or shabbily dressed. •/Roy walks around out at the elbows, but it’s not because he is penniless, but more in imitation of a certain style./

[out back]{adv. phr.} In one’s backyard. •/On the Fourth of July they were out back making preparations for their holiday barbecue./

[outback]{n.} 1. The remote and uncultivated wilderness areas of Australia or New Zealand, with very few inhabitants. •/Mike and Barbara roughed it in the Australian outback for nearly two years./ 2. Any remote, sparsely populated region. •/Tom’s old ranch in Texas is next to an arid outback./

[out cold]{adv.} or {adj.}, {informal} Unconscious; in a faint. •/The ball hit Dick in the head and knocked him out cold for ten minutes./ •/They tried to lift Mary when she fell down, but she was out cold./ Syn.: OUT LIKE A LIGHT(2). Compare: PASS OUT.

[outer space]{n.} What is outside of the earth’s air. •/An astronaut cannot live without oxygen when he goes into outer space./

[out for]{prep.} Joining, or planning to join; taking part in; competing for a place in. •/John is out for the basketball team./ •/Mary is going out for the school newspaper./ Compare: TRY OUT.

[out from under]{adj. phr.}, {informal} Free from something that worries you; seeing the end; finished. – Usually used with «be» or «get». •/Mary had so much to do in the new house she felt as though she would never be out from under./ •/John had so many debts, he couldn’t get out from under./

[out in force]{adv. phr.} Present in very large numbers; en masse. •/On the Fourth of July the police cars are out in force in the Chicago area./

[out in left field]{adj. phr.}, {informal} Far from the right answer; wrong; astray. •/Johnny tried to answer the teacher’s question but he was way out in left field./ •/Susan tried to guess what the surprise was but she was way out in left field./ 2. Speaking or acting very queerly; crazy. •/The girl next door was always queer, but after her father died, she was really out in left field and had to go to a hospital./ Compare: OUT OF ONE’S HEAD.

[out in the cold]{adj. phr.}, {informal} Alone; not included. •/All the other children were chosen for parts in the play, but Johnny was left out in the cold./ •/Everybody made plans for Christmas Day and Mary found herself out in the cold./ Compare: HIGH AND DRY.

[out in the open] See: COME OUT IN THE OPEN.

[out like a light]{adj. phr.}, {informal} 1. Fast asleep; to sleep very quickly. •/Tom got so much fresh air and exercise that he went out like a light as soon as he lay down./ •/As soon as the lights were turned off, Johnny was out like a light./ 2. In a faint; unconscious. •/Johnny was hit by a ball and went out like a light./ •/After she read that Tom had married another girl Jean was out like a light for several minutes./ Compare: OUT COLD.

[out loud]{adv. phr.} In an ordinary speaking voice and not whispering or talking quietly; so everybody can hear; aloud. •/The teacher read the final grades out loud./ •/Mary spoke out loud so the people standing nearby would hear./ •/Sometimes I find it helpful to think out loud./

[out of]{prep.} 1a. From the inside to the outside of. •/John took the apple out of the bag./ •/Get out of the car!/ •/The teacher has gone out of town./ 1b. In a place away from. •/No, you can’t see Mr. Jones; he is out of the office today./ •/Our house is ten miles out of town./ 2. From a particular condition or situation; not in; from; in a way changed from being in. •/The drugstore is going out of business./ •/The sick man is out of danger at last./ •/Bob is never out of trouble./ 3. Beyond the range of. •/The plane is out of sight now./ •/If you can’t swim, don’t go out of your depth./ 4. From (a source). •/Mother asked Billy who started the fight, but she couldn’t get anything out of him./ •/The teacher gave a test to see what the students got out of the lesson./ •/Mr. Jones made a fortune out of cotton./ 5. Because of; as a result of. •/Mary scolded Joan out of jealousy./ •/The cat ran away out of fear of the dog./ 6. Without; not having. •/The store is out of coffee./ •/John’s father is out of work./ 7. From (a material). •/The house is built out of stone./ •/His suit is made out of cotton and is cool./ 8. From among. •/The man picked Joe out of the crowd./ •/Our team won eight out of ten games last season./

[out of a bandbox] See: LOOK AS IF ONE HAS COME OUT OF A BANDBOX.

[out of account] See: LEAVE OUT OF ACCOUNT.

[out of a clear sky] or [out of a clear blue sky] See: OUT OF THE BLUE.

[out of action]{adv. phr.} Useless; crippled; damaged so as to be quiescent. •/American bombers put Nazi heavy industry out of action during World War II./ •/When I broke my leg I was out of action for the entire football season./

[out of all proportion]{adv. phr.} Disproportionate; lopsided. •/The news coverage of the sensational celebrity double murder has grown out of all proportion, obscuring the international news./

[out of bounds]{adv.} or {adj. phr.} 1. Outside of the boundary lines in a game; not on or inside the playing field. •/Bill thought he had scored a touchdown, but he had stepped out of bounds before he reached the goal line./ 2. Outside of a circumscribed area for a certain kind of work, such as construction or military site. •/The principal told the students that the new gymnasium being built on the school grounds was out of bounds./ •/The captain’s cabin is out of bounds to the passengers on the ship./ Contrast: WITHIN BOUNDS. 3. Outside of safe or proper limits; not doing what is proper; breaking the rules of good behavior. •/John was out of bounds when he called Tom a liar in the meeting./ •/His request for a 25% salary raise was totally out of bounds./

[out of breath]{adj.} or {adv. phr.} Not breathing easily or regularly; gasping; panting. •/The fat man was out of breath after climbing the stairs./ •/The mile run left Bill out of breath./

[out of character]{adv.} or {adj. phr.} 1. Not in agreement with a person’s character or personality; not in the way that a person usually behaves or is expected to behave; not usual; unsuitable; uncharacteristic. •/Mary is a nice girl. Her fit of temper was out of character./ 2. Not in character; unsuitable for a part or character. •/It isn’t always out of character for a young actor to play an old man, if he is a good actor./ Contrast: IN CHARACTER.

[out of circulation]{adj. phr.}, {informal} Not out in the company of friends, other people, and groups; not active; not joining in what others are doing. •/John has a job after school and is out of circulation with his friends./ Contrast: IN CIRCULATION.

[out of commission]{adj. phr.} 1. Retired from active military service; no longer on active duty. •/When the war was over, many warships were placed out of commission./ Contrast: IN COMMISSION(1). 2. Not in use or not working; so that it cannot work or be used. •/The strike put the airline out of commission for a week./ •/John will have to walk to the store. His bicycle is out of commission./ Compare: OUT OF ORDER. Contrast: IN COMMISSION(2).

[out of condition] See: OUT OF SHAPE or OUT OF CONDITION.

[out of date]{adj. phr.} Old fashioned; superseded; no longer valid; too old to be used. •/Father’s suit is out of date; he needs a new one./ •/The news magazines in the doctor’s office were all out of date./

[out of fashion]{adj. phr.} Having passed from vogue; out of the current mode. •/The miniskirt is now out of fashion in most quarters, but it may very well come back some day./

[out of gas]{adv. phr.} 1. Out of fuel (said of automobiles). •/Be sure you don’t run out of gas when you go on a long distance trip by car./ 2. Rundown; depleted of energy; in poor physical condition. •/Mary said she had to take a break from her job as she was running totally out of gas./

[out of gear] See: THROW OUT OF GEAR.

[out of hand]{adv. phr.} 1. Out of control. •/Bobby’s birthday party got out of hand and the children were naughty./ •/Small puppies often get out of hand./ 2. Suddenly, quickly without examination of possible truth or merit; without any consideration. – Often used after «dismiss» or «reject». •/The senator rejected out of hand the critics' call for his resignation./ Compare: OUT OF LINE. Contrast: IN HAND.

[out of hot water] See: HOT WATER.

[out of keeping]{adj. phr.} Not going well together; not agreeing; not proper. •/Loud talk was out of keeping in the library./ •/It was out of keeping for the kind man to kick the dog./ Contrast: IN KEEPING.

[out of kilter]{adj. phr.}, {informal} 1. Not balanced right; not in a straight line or lined up right. •/The scale must be out of kilter because when I weighed myself on it, it said 300 pounds./ •/The wheels of my bicycle were out of kilter after it hit the tree./ Contrast: IN BALANCE. 2. Needing repair; not working right. •/My watch runs too slowly; it must be out of kilter./ Syn.: OUT OF ORDER(2).

[out of line(1)]{adv. phr.} Not in a straight line; away from a true line. •/The two edges were out of line and there was a space between them./ •/The sergeant ordered the soldier who was out of line to get properly lined up./

[out of line(2)]{adj. phr.} Not obeying or agreeing with what is right or usual; doing or being what people do not expect or accept; outside ordinary or proper limits; not usual, right, or proper. •/Little Mary got out of line and was rude to Aunt Elizabeth./ •/The teacher asked Charlie not to tell one of the jokes because it was out of line./ •/Mrs. Green thought the repair man’s charge was out of line./ Compare: OUT OF HAND, OUT OF ORDER. Contrast: IN LINE(2).

[out of line with]{prep.} Not in agreement with. •/The price of the bicycle was out of line with what Bill could afford./

[out of luck]{adj. phr.} Being unlucky; having bad luck; having something bad happen to you. •/Mr. Jones missed his train and was out of luck in getting to the ball game on time./ •/All of the girls had dates so Ben was out of luck./

[out of mind] See: OUT OF SIGHT, out OF MIND.

[out of nowhere]{adv. phr.} Without having been seen before; suddenly and unexpectedly. •/Mr. Jones was driving too fast on the express highway when a police patrol car appeared out of nowhere and stopped him./ Syn.: OUT OF THE BLUE.

[out of one’s blood]{adv. phr.} Separate from one’s feelings, interests, or desires. •/When Tom moved to the city, he couldn’t get the country out of his blood./ •/Mary is having a hard job getting summer laziness out of her blood./ Contrast: IN ONE’S BLOOD.

[out of one’s element]{adv. phr.} Outside of your natural surroundings; where you do not belong or fit in. •/Wild animals are out of their element in cages./ •/Chris is out of his element in singing class./ Compare: OUT OF PLACE, BEYOND ONE’S DEPTH. Contrast: IN ONE’S ELEMENT.

[out of one’s hair]{adj. phr.}, {informal} Rid of as a nuisance; relieved of as an annoyance. •/Harry got the boys out of his hair so he could study./ Compare: OUT OF ONE’S WAY. Contrast: IN ONE’S HAIR.

[out of one’s hand] See: EAT OUT OF ONE’S HAND.

[out of one’s head] or [out of one’s mind] or [out of one’s senses] also [off one’s head]{adj. phr.}, {informal} Acting in a crazy way; especially, wildly crazy. •/The patient was feverish and out of his head and had to be watched./ •/Her friends thought she was out of her mind to marry that man./ Compare: OFF ONE’S ROCKER. Contrast: COME TO ONE’S SENSES.

[out of one’s mind] See: OUT OF ONE’S HEAD.

[out of one’s mouth] See: TAKE THE BREAD OUT OF ONE’S MOUTH, TAKE THE WORDS OUT OF ONE’S MOUTH.

[out of one’s pocket]{adv. phr.} Having sustained a financial loss; poorer by a said amount. •/The show was so bad that, besides having a lousy time, I was also $35 out of my pocket./

[out of one’s sails] See: TAKE THE WIND OUT OF ONE’S SAILS.

[out of one’s senses] See: OUT OF ONE’S HEAD.

[out of one’s shell]{adv. phr.}, {informal} Out of one’s bashfulness or silence; into friendly conversation. – Usually used after «come». •/John wouldn’t come out of his shell and talk to the boys and girls at the party./ •/The other girls tried to draw Ella out of her shell, but without success./ Contrast: IN ONE’S SHELL.

[out of one’s skin] See: JUMP OU T OF ONE’S SKIN.

[out of one’s way] See: OUT OF THE WAY(3).

[out of one’s wits] See: SCARE OUT OF ONE’S WITS.

[out of (one’s) reach]{adv. phr.} Unreachable; unattainable; unobtainable. •/Sam wanted to be a United States senator but he came to realize that such a dream was out of his reach./

[out of order]{adv.} or {adj. phr.} 1. In the wrong order; not coming after one another in the right way. •/Peter wrote the words of the sentence out of order./ •/Don’t get out of order, children. Stay in your places in line./ Contrast: IN ORDER. 2. In poor condition; not working properly. •/Our television set is out of order./ 3. Against the rules; not suitable. •/The judge told the people in the courtroom that they were out of order because they were so noisy./ •/The children’s whispering was out of order in the church./ Compare: OUT OF LINE, OUT OF PLACE, OUT OF THE WAY, OUT OF TURN, OUT OF COMMISSION(2). Contrast: IN ORDER.

[out of place(1)]{adv. phr.} Not in the right or usual place or position. •/Harry fell and knocked one of his teeth out of place./ •/The teacher lined up the class and told them not to get out of place./ Compare: OUT OF ORDER. Contrast: IN PLACE.

[out of place(2)]{adj. phr.} In the wrong place or at the wrong time; not suitable; improper. •/Joan was the only girl who wore a formal at the party, and she felt out of place./ •/It was out of place for Russell to laugh at the old lady./ Compare: OUT OF ONE’S ELEMENT, OUT OF ORDER, OUT OF THE WAY. Contrast: IN PLACE.

[out-of-pocket expenses]{n. phr.} Expenses one has to pay for oneself, not the company that sends one on a given assignment, such as tips for waiters, cab drivers, etc. •/Luckily, my out-of-pocket expenses didn’t amount to more than $15./

[out of practice]{adj. phr.} Not in proper condition; unable to do something well because of lack of practice. •/The basketball team got out of practice during the Christmas holidays./ Compare: OUT OF SHAPE. Contrast: IN PRACTICE.

[out of print]{adj. phr.} No longer obtainable from the publisher because the printed copies have been sold out; no longer printed. •/The book is out of print. An edition of one thousand copies was sold and no more copies were printed./ Compare: OUT OF STOCK. Contrast: IN PRINT.

[out of school] See: TELL TALES OUT OF SCHOOL.

[out of season]{adv. phr.} 1. Not at the right or lawful time for hunting or catching. •/The boys were caught fishing out of season./ 2. Not at the usual time for growing and selling. •/The corn we get out of season is different from the kind we grow here./ Contrast: IN SEASON.

[out of shape] or [out of condition]{adj. phr.} 1. Not in good condition; not able to perform well. •/Father was out of shape when he took a long hike with the boys, and he was stiff and sore the next day./ •/Jack’s pitching arm got out of condition during the winter, when he wasn’t using it./ Compare: OUT OF PRACTICE. 2. Not look the same; changed. •/Someone sat on father’s new hat and mashed it. It is now out of shape./ Contrast: IN SHAPE.

[out of sight]{adv. phr.} 1. Not within one’s field of vision. •/The sailboat disappeared out of sight over the horizon./ 2. Extremely expensive. •/The builder’s estimate was so high that it was out of sight./ 3. Unbelievable; fantastic; incredible (both in the positive and the negative sense; an exaggeration.) •/Roxanne is such a stunning beauty, it’s simply out of sight./ •/Mr. Gargoyle is so repulsive, it’s out of sight./ 4. Unreachable; unrealizable; belonging to the world of fiction and fantasy. •/Max’s dreams about winning the Senatorial election are really out of sight; he admits it himself./ Compare: PIPE DREAM.

[out of sight, out of mind] If one doesn’t see something for an extended period of time, one tends to forget about it. – A proverb. •/After Caroline moved out of town, Ray soon found other women to date. As the saying goes, «out of sight, out of mind.»/

[out of sorts]{adj. phr.} In an angry or unhappy mood; in a bad temper; grouchy. •/Mary was out of sorts and wouldn’t say good morning./ •/Bob was out of sorts because he didn’t get a bicycle for his birthday./

[out of step]{adv.} or {adj. phr.} 1. Not in step; not matching strides or keeping pace with another or others. •/George always marches out of step with the music./ 2. Out of harmony; not keeping up. – Often followed by «with». •/Just because you don’t smoke, it doesn’t mean you are out of step with other boys and girls your age./ Contrast: IN STEP.

[out of stock]{adj. phr.} Having none for sale or use; no longer in supply; sold out. •/When Father tried to get tires for an old car, the man in the store said that size was out of stock and were not sold anymore./ •/So many children have bought balloons that the store is now out of stock./ Compare: OUT OF PRINT. Contrast: IN STOCK.

[out of the blue] or [out of a clear sky] or [out of a clear blue sky]{adv. phr.}, {informal} Without any warning; by surprise; unexpectedly. •/At the last minute Johnny came out of the blue to catch the pass and score a touchdown./ •/The cowboy thought he was alone but suddenly out of a clear sky there were bandits all around him./ Syn.: OUT OF NOWHERE. Compare: BOLT FROM THE BLUE.

[out of the corner of one’s eye]{adv. phr.} Without looking at a person or thing directly or openly; secretly; without being noticed. •/The cat looked at the mouse out of the corner of his eye./ •/Mike watched the boys across the street out of the corner of his eye as he mowed the lawn./

[out of the frying pan into the fire] Out of one trouble into worse trouble; from something bad to something worse. – A proverb. •/The movie cowboy was out of the frying pan into the fire. After he escaped from the robbers, he was captured by Indians./

[out of the hole]{adv.} or {adj. phr.}, {informal} 1a. With a score better than zero in a game; especially a card game, to a score above zero. •/It took us a long time to get out of the hole in the card game./ 1b. Even with an opponent after being behind; out of trouble in a sport or game. •/The team played very hard, but could not get out of the hole./ 2. Out of debt; ahead financially. •/It was a small business, but it was wisely managed, and it kept out of the hole./ •/The first year was bad, but after that Fred got out of the hole./ Contrast: IN THE HOLE.

[out of the ordinary]{adj. phr.} Outside or beyond common experience; unusual; wonderful; extraordinary. •/The parade will be something out of the ordinary because a real king will be there./ •/This juggler was out of the ordinary because he could juggle with his feet as well as his hands./

[out of the picture]{adv. phr.} No longer a possibility or in the running; rejected. •/Mark assured Carol that his ex-wife was completely out of the picture./

[out of the question]{adj. phr.} Not worth considering; unthinkable; impossible. •/It sometimes snows as late as June in the mountains, but the summer campers thought that snow was out of the question./ •/The boys had no money, so it was out of the question for them to go to the movies./

[out of the rain] See: KNOW ENOUGH TO COME IN OUT OF THE RAIN.

[out of the red]{adv. phr.} Having reached solvency; no longer in debt. •/Under the new management, our company finally got out of the red./ Contrast: IN THE HOLE, IN THE RED. Compare: IN THE BLACK.

[out of the running]{adj.} or {adv. phr.} Having no chance to win; not among the real contenders; not among those to be considered. •/John had been out of the running since his first date with Mary, but he didn’t realize it./ •/Jones’s horse was put out of the running early in the race./ Contrast: IN THE RUNNING.

[out of the swim]{adj. phr.} Not doing what others are doing; not active in business or social affairs. •/Mary had to stay home and take care of Mother while she was sick, and soon felt out of the swim./ •/The toy manufacturer who is out of the swim will lose money./ Contrast: IN THE SWIM.

[out of the way]{adv. phr.} 1. Not where people usually go; difficult to reach. •/When little Tommy comes to visit her, Aunt Sally puts her lamps and vases out of the way./ – Often used with hyphens before a noun. •/Gold was found in an out-of-the-way village in the mountains, and soon a good road and airfield were built./ •/Jack and Fred found an old gun in an out-of-the-way corner of the empty house./ Compare: OFF THE BEATEN TRACK. 2. Not what is usual or proper; strange. •/To leave before the guest of honor would be out of the way./ •/I’m sorry if I said something out of the way./ •/The night watchman looked around the building, but he saw nothing out of the way./ Compare: OUT OF PLACE. 3. or [out of one’s way] Not able to stop or bother you. •/Tommy wished the visitors were out of the way so that he could have the candy for himself./ Compare: OUT OF ONE’S HAIR, PUT OUT OF THE WAY.