be out
be out
1. To not be present in a particular place. George is actually out for the afternoon—can I take a message?
2. To have left a particular place in order to do something. I'm out for groceries right now, but I'll be home soon.
3. To have been released from prison. I can't believe I'll finally be out in a few days. My sentence felt twice as long as it actually was.
4. To not be functioning currently. The power is out, and I bet a fallen tree is to blame.
5. To be asleep. Please be quiet—the kids are out, and I really don't want them to wake up.
6. To have revealed one's homosexuality. I'm not surprised that he's out now—I always thought he might be gay.
7. To be pursuing something in a persistent or determined manner. Sure, I'm worried that Joan is out for my job—I see how hard she's been working.
8. To be visible in the sky. I'm so glad that the sun is finally out after all those rainy days.
9. To no longer be fashionable or trendy. Haven't you heard? Wearing knee-high socks is out now!
10. To no longer be considered a feasible option. Lana doesn't want Chinese food, so that's out—how about Mexican?
11. To discuss or reveal something in a direct, candid, or honest fashion. I really appreciate how she is out about her mental health struggles—it helps to break the stigma.
12. For an offensive player in baseball, to have to return to the dugout after a play has rendered them "out." You'll be out if one of their players catches your hit.
13. To have exhausted a supply of something. I'm sorry, but we're out of mashed potatoes—can I get you something else?
See also: out
be out in bloom
To have fully blossomed, as of a flower, tree, or other such plant. Our back yard is so colorful now that all the flowers are out in bloom. I'm surprised the apple trees aren't out in bloom yet.
See also: bloom, out
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
be out
v.
1. To be at the exterior of some space, such as a building: I won't close the window if the cat is still out.
2. To be away from home or other central location: Your brother was out when I came by to see him.
3. To be no longer in prison: I've been out for five years, and I don't want to end up behind bars ever again.
4. To be unobstructed by clouds. Used of the sun, moon, and stars: It's quite light outside now that the moon is out.
5. To be in some weather condition. Used with it: Is it nice out? It was rainy out, so we stayed inside.
6. To be extinguished. Used of sources of light: The lamps are out and I can't see a thing.
7. To be nonfunctional due to disconnection: We can't take that road because the bridge is out. All of the phone lines were out for three days after the storm.
8. To be asleep or unconscious: I drank some soothing tea before I went to bed, and I was out in three minutes.
9. To be no longer in fashion: Wide ties and thick socks are out this year.
10. To be excluded as a possibility: We have to pick them up; driving home without them is out. I would like to meet you today, but this afternoon is out; how about this evening?
11. To be determined to do something. Used with an infinitive clause: Watch out: they are out to steal your wallet!
12. To be open and honest about something that one might hide: He was completely out about his past as a jewel thief.
13. To be open about being a gay man, a lesbian, or a bisexual: Most of her friends were out, but she was still shy about it.
14. Baseball To have lost a position as a batter or runner: If someone catches the ball you hit before it reaches the ground, you're out. The player was out at third base.
15. be out for To have left a central location in order to fetch or do something: John's not here; he's out for a walk. They were out for more supplies when we arrived at their camp.
16. be out of To no longer have something that has been used up; have run out of something: We're out of pickles; could you go to the store and buy some? The car wouldn't start; it was out of gas.
See also: out
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs.
- be out in bloom
- make a day/night/weekend of it
- call at (some place)
- call at some place
- bride
- bridesmaid
- always the bridesmaid
- always the bridesmaid, never the bride
- come across like
- come across like (someone or something)