out of the window

out (of) the window

Forgotten or disregarded; lost or wasted. One member of the audience started shouting at the speaker during the presentation, and all sense of decorum went right out of the window. Once the government deregulated the industry, expensive safety precautions were the first thing out the window.
See also: out, window
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

out of the window

Discarded, tossed out. This term is often used in the phrase go out the window, as in For the town planners past experience seems to have gone out the window. It alludes to unwanted items being hurled out of the window. [First half of 1900s]
See also: of, out, window
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
See also:
  • out (of) the window
  • out the window
  • be, go, etc. out/out of the window
  • go out the window
  • the last word
  • last word
  • last word, the
  • last word, to have the
  • have the last word
  • get in the last word
References in classic literature
"Chuck that cheese slicer out of the window," he said, "and tell 'em inside that Mr.
The Four Million
When the guard was called away the prisoner had apparently left his cell, and climbed out of the window and over a wall.
Third prison escape in Sweden - report
A friend who came with us said, 'Another of my prejudices has gone out of the window!'
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