[out of the blue] or [out of a clear sky] or [out of a clear bluesky] {adv. phr.}, {informal} Without any warning; by surprise;unexpectedly. •/At the last minute Johnny came out of the blue to catch thepass and score a touchdown./ •/The cowboy thought he was alone but suddenlyout 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 aperson or thing directly or openly; secretly; without being noticed. •/Thecat looked at the mouse out of the corner of his eye./ •/Mike watched theboys 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 worsetrouble; from something bad to something worse. — A proverb. •/The moviecowboy was out of the frying pan into the fire. After he escaped from therobbers, he was captured by Indians./

[out of the hole]{adv.} or {adj. phr.}, {informal} 1a. With ascore better than zero in a game; especially a card game, to a score abovezero. •/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 orgame. •/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 wiselymanaged, and it kept out of the hole./ •/The first year was bad, but afterthat 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 theordinary because a real king will be there./ •/This juggler was out of theordinary because he could juggle with his feet as well as his hands./

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

[out of the question]{adj. phr.} Not worth considering; unthinkable;impossible. •/It sometimes snows as late as June in the mountains, but thesummer campers thought that snow was out of the question./ •/The boys hadno 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 indebt. •/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 hadbeen out of the running since his first date with Mary, but he didn’t realizeit./ •/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; notactive in business or social affairs. •/Mary had to stay home and take careof Mother while she was sick, and soon felt out of the swim./ •/The toymanufacturer 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; difficultto reach. •/When little Tommy comes to visit her, Aunt Sally puts her lampsand vases out of the way./ — Often used with hyphens before a noun. •/Goldwas found in an out-of-the-way village in the mountains, and soon a good roadand airfield were built./ •/Jack and Fred found an old gun in anout-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 honorwould be out of the way./ •/I’m sorry if I said something out of theway./ •/The night watchman looked around the building, but he saw nothingout of the way./ Compare: OUT OF PLACE. 3. or [out of one’s way] Not ableto stop or bother you. •/Tommy wished the visitors were out of the way sothat he could have the candy for himself./ Compare: OUT OF ONE’S HAIR, PUTOUT 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. •/Theteacher scolded Dick because his story was made out of thin air./ •/On theway home from town, Tom saw a house standing on the lot that had been emptythat morning; it seemed to have appeared out of thin air./ Compare: INTO THINAIR.

[out of this world]{adj. phr.}, {slang} Wonderfully good orsatisfying; terrific; super. •/The dress in the store window was out of thisworld!/ •/Mother was on TV last night. Isn’t that out of this world?/

[out of touch]{adj. phr.} Not writing or talking with each other; notgetting news anymore. •/Fred had got out of touch with people in hishometown./ •/On his island Robinson Crusoe was out of touch with worldnews./ Compare: LOSE TOUCH, LOSE TRACK. Contrast: IN TOUCH.

[out of town]{adv. phr.} Having left one’s usual residence or place ofwork on a longer trip. •/"Mr. Smith is out of town until Monday," thesecretary said. "May I take a message?"/

[out of tune]{adv.} or {adj. phr.} 1. Out of proper musical pitch;too low or high in sound. •/The band sounded terrible, because theinstruments were out of tune./ 2. Not in agreement; in disagreement; notgoing well together. — Often used with "with". •/What Jack said was out oftune with how he looked; he said he was happy, but he looked unhappy./Compare: OFF-KEY. Contrast: IN TUNE.

[out of turn]{adv. phr.} 1. Not in regular order; at the wrong time.•/John played out of turn./ •/By taking a day off out of turn, Bob gotthe schedule mixed up./ 2. Too hastily or wrongly; at the wrong time orplace; so as to annoy others. •/Dick loses friends by speaking out ofturn./

[out of wedlock] See: BORN OUT OF WEDLOCK.

[out of whack]{adj. phr.}, {slang}1. Needing repair; not workingright. •/Ben was glad the lawn mower got out of whack, because he didn’t haveto mow the lawn./ Syn.: OUT OF ORDER. 2. Not going together well; not inagreement. •/The things Mr. Black does are out of whack with what he says./•/George’s earnings and his spending were out of whack./ Compare: OUT OFLINE.

[out of work]{adv. phr.} Having no income-producing job; unemployed.•/When too many people are out of work, it is a sign that the economy is in arecession./

[out on a limb]{adv. phr.} With your beliefs and opinions openlystated; in a dangerous position that can’t be changed. •/The president wentout on a limb and supported a foreign aid bill that many people wereagainst./ •/Grandfather went out on a limb before the summer was over andsaid that the next winter would be long and cold with many snowstorms./

[out on bail]{adv. phr.} Released from prison because a securitydeposit known as "bail" has been put up by an individual or a bail bond broker.•/The murder suspect was out on a one million dollar bail awaiting trial./

[out on parole]{adv. phr.} Released from prison but still under thesupervision of the police. •/Although Henry is out on parole he must watchhis step very carefully. If he commits another burglary he may have to go tojail for a very long time./

[out on the town]{adv. phr.} Going from one bar or restaurant to thenext in order to celebrate an event. •/They all went out on the town tocelebrate his promotion to vice president./