out of commission

Idioms  

1. Not in working order, unable to function. For example, The drawbridge is out of commission so we'll have to take the tunnel. This idiom originally referred to a ship that was laid up for repairs or held in reserve. Similarly, the antonym, in commission, referred to a ship armed and ready for action. The latter term is also used in more general contexts today, as in My car's back in commission now, so we can drive to the theater. [Late 1800s]

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

out of commission

Roughly 5 million barrels a day of the world’s refining capacity is currently out of commission between the Middle East and Russia, energy executives said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 7, 2026

PBF Energy, which had its Martinez refinery out of commission from February 2025 to this May due to a fire, said it expected continued high profits in California over the quarters to come.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 5, 2026

When a flood knocked Justin O’Neill’s kitchen out of commission in 2022, he and his wife decided to use the opportunity to do a full remodel.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 1, 2026

The third-generation Starship spacecraft carried out a maneuver that saw it flip upright and reignite its engines for control, despite one being out of commission.

From Barron's ● May 22, 2026

There was no way she could fight off so many by herself while Nico prepared their escape, especially with Coach Hedge out of commission.

From "Blood of Olympus" by Rick Riordan