[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?/

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

[out of town]{adv. phr.} Having left one’s usual residence or place of work on a longer trip. •/"Mr. Smith is out of town until Monday," the secretary 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 the instruments were out of tune./ 2. Not in agreement; in disagreement; not going well together. — Often used with "with". •/What Jack said was out of tune 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 got the schedule mixed up./ 2. Too hastily or wrongly; at the wrong time or place; so as to annoy others. •/Dick loses friends by speaking out of turn./

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

[out of whack]{adj. phr.}, {slang}1. Needing repair; not working right. •/Ben was glad the lawn mower got out of whack, because he didn’t have to mow the lawn./ Syn.: OUT OF ORDER. 2. Not going together well; not in agreement. •/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 OF LINE.

[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 a recession./

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

[out on bail]{adv. phr.} Released from prison because a security deposit 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 the supervision of the police. •/Although Henry is out on parole he must watch his step very carefully. If he commits another burglary he may have to go to jail for a very long time./

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