out of the ordinary

Idioms  

1. Unusual, uncommon, exceptional, as in The venison they served was certainly out of the ordinary. This expression sometimes, but not always, indicates that something is better than the usual. However, the negative version, nothing out of the ordinary, usually indicates that something is not special or outstanding, as in It was an interesting lecture, but nothing out of the ordinary.

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Example Sentences

I have a list of 40 conservative websites that I’ll go through a couple times a week, because what I’m looking for is typically an emerging trend, or something that’s out of the ordinary.

From Slate • May 7, 2026

"It represents togetherness and something a little out of the ordinary," she said in a video released by NASA.

From Barron's • Apr. 4, 2026

The number of cases seen in the area is not out of the ordinary for such outbreaks, which have been occurring reasonably frequently since late 2023.

From BBC • Feb. 16, 2026

Nanos, at a news conference Monday, called on the public for help, asking for reports of anything out of the ordinary or any possible sightings of Nancy Guthrie.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 3, 2026

Well, the two of us walked and climbed and searched and explored but we didn’t see anything out of the ordinary.

From "The Seven Wonders of Sassafras Springs" by Betty G. Birney