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

Meanwhile, my phone is still out of commission, and I take a moment to reconfirm the fact that that means the airline app is useless, too.

From Literature

And it’s worth noting that I once met Bastian in the same spot when Angels Flight, the iconic funicular that climbs Bunker Hill from Hill Street and connects Grand Avenue to the lower elevations of downtown, was out of commission.

From Los Angeles Times

The parking lot remains out of commission along with handicap access.

From Los Angeles Times

NPR first reported in January that a number of toilets on the Ford were out of commission.

From The Wall Street Journal

But since Sunday , the skylit, greenery-filled Main Library has begun a long-planned renovation and expansion that will put it out of commission for about the next 18 months, officials said.

From Los Angeles Times