Словарь американских идиом (8000 единиц) - неизвестен Автор

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[out of date] 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 Old fashioned; superseded; no longer valid; too old to be used. * /Father's suit is out of date; he needs a new one./ * /The news magazines in the doctor's office were all out of date./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

[out of the woods] See: CROW BEFORE ONE IS OUT OF THE WOODS.

[out of thin air] <adv. phr.> Out of nothing or from nowhere. * /The teacher scolded Dick because his story was made out of thin air./ * /On the way home from town, Tom saw a house standing on the lot that had been empty that morning; it seemed to have appeared out of thin air./ Compare: INTO THIN AIR.

[out of this world] <adj. phr.>, <slang> Wonderfully good or satisfying; terrific; super. * /The dress in the store window was out of this world!/ * /Mother was on TV last night. Isn't that out of this world?/