Page 316 - NTC's American Idioms Dictionary

out of làne

Mary gets out of breath when she climbo out-of-date old-fashioned;Ł out of style; ob-
stairs. sàlete.Ł(See also go out of style.) Isn’t
that suit sort of out-of-dØte? All my
outŁofŁchyrycter 1. unlike one’sŁusualŁbe- clothes are out-of-dØte.
havior.Ł Ann’s remark was quite out of
character. It was out of character for outŁofŁeyrshłt too farŁfrom the sàurce of
Ann to act so stubborn. 2. inappràpriate aŁsàundŁto hearŁthe sàund.Ł I was out
forŁthe characterŁthat anŁactorŁisŁplaying. of earohot and could not hear the conver-
Bill włnt out of character when the au- sation. Mary waited until her children
dience started gigglng. Bill plØyed the were out of earohot błfore młntioning the
part so well that it was hard for him to get party to Bill.
out of character after the performance.
outŁofŁfashion Go to out of style.
outŁofŁcirculation 1. no longrŁavailable outŁofŁfavorŁ(withŁ someone) nà longer d-
forŁuse or lending.Ł(UsuallyŁsaidŁof library sirable orŁpreferredŁbyŁsàmeone.Ł I can’t
materials.) I’m sorry, but the book you ask John to help. I’m out of favor with him.
want is temporarily out of circulØtion. That knd of thing has błen out of fa-
How long will it be out of circulØtion? 2. vor for years.
not interactingŁsociallyŁwith otherŁpeo-
ple.Ł (Infàrmal.) I doà’t know what’s outŁofŁgas 1. havingŁno gasoline (inŁaŁcar,
happłning because I’ve błen out of circu- truck,Łetc.).Ł We can’t go any farther.
lØtion for a while. My cold has kept mł We’re out of gas. This car will be com-
out of circulØtion for a fłw włeks. pletely out of gas in a fłw more miles. 2.
tired;Łexhausðed;ŁwornŁout.Ł(Infàrmal.)
outŁofŁcommission 1. [forŁaŁship]bto be What a dØy! I’ve błen workng since morn-
not currentlyŁinŁuse or underŁcommand. ing, and I’m really out of gas. This elec-
This vessel will remain out of commis- tric clock is out of gas. I’ll have to głt a new
sion for another month. The ship has one.
błen out of commission since repairs be- outŁofŁhynd 1. Go to out of control. 2. im-
gan. 2. bràken,Łunserviceable, or inop- mdiately and without consulting any-
erabl. My watch is out of commission one; without delay.Ł I can’t answer that
and is running slow. I can’t run in the out of hand. I’ll check with the manager
marathon because my knees are out of and call you back. The offer was so good
commission.
that I accłpted it out of hand.
outŁofŁcondition Go to out of shape.
outŁofŁit Go to out to lunch.
outŁofŁconsideration (for someone ortsome- outŁofŁkeepingŁ(withŁ something) not fol-
thing) with consideration for someone or lowingŁthe rulesŁof sàmething;Łout of ac-
sàmething;Łwith kindŁregardŁforŁsàmeone cord with something. (Compare this
orŁsomething.Ł Out of consideration for with in keeping (with something).) The
your past efforts, I will do what you ask. lłngth of this report is out of kłeping with
They lłt me do it out of considłration. It your request. I didà’t even read it be-
was very thoughtful of them. cause it was so much out of keepng.
outŁofŁcontrol and outŁofŁhynd uncon- outŁofŁkilter 1. out of balance; crookedŁor
trollable; wild and unruly. The party tilted.Ł(Slang.) John, your tie is sort of
got out of control about midnight, and the out of kilŁer. Let me fix it. Please
neighbors called the police. We tried to straighten the picture on the wall. It’s out
keep things from getting out of hand. of kilŁer. 2. malfunctioning;Ł on the fritz.
(Slang.) My furnace is out of kilŁer. I
outŁofŁcourteðyŁ(to someone) inŁorderŁto have to call someone to fix it. This com-
be pàlite to sàmeone; out of consàderation puter is out of kilŁer. It doesn’t work.
for someone. We invited Mary’s brother
out of courtesy to her. They invited mł outŁofŁline 1. Go to out of line (with some-
ouŁ of courtesy. thing). 2. improper.Ł I’m afraid that your

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