out of order
Idioms-
Not functioning well, not operating properly or at all, as in The oil burner is out of order again . [Mid-1500s]
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Unsuitable, inappropriate, as in Her comments about the management were out of order . Also see out of line , def. 1.
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Not following parliamentary procedure, as in The chair called him out of order .
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
"This bill doesn't just create problems... it throws our lives out of order completely," said PhD scholar Vaibhav Das, who identifies as non‑binary.
From Barron's • Mar. 24, 2026
But two of them had been out of order "for some time", the probe showed.
From Barron's • Oct. 13, 2025
His application was ruled out of order - a decision upheld by an appeal panel of Welsh Labour's executive committee.
From BBC • Aug. 6, 2025
Northampton rugby director Phil Dowson had described the incident as "uncalled for and out of order" and said that there had been foul play involved.
From BBC • May 26, 2025
He knew there were big chunks of this situation that were completely uncool and out of order.
From "Eleanor & Park" by Rainbow Rowell
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
