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

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

Around 10% of U.S. natural gas production was temporarily knocked out of commission just as demand was spiking, noted strategists at Saxo Bank.

From MarketWatch

At the time it was considered state of the art and hosted events like the Scottish Skateboarding Championship, but several years later the site was out of commission, after a decline in popularity, concern about maintenance costs and safety risks.

From BBC

Some experts, though, agree with residents that having the reservoir out of commission was a problem.

From Los Angeles Times