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

Human soldiers have easily foiled AI systems by doing what is "out of the ordinary", like somersaulting or putting cardboard boxes over their heads, he adds.

From BBC • Jun. 8, 2026

Implying that Platner’s behavior was nothing out of the ordinary in marital life, she went on, “No marriage is perfect, and I don’t want a perfect marriage.”

From Slate • Jun. 2, 2026

Solomon says the meeting wasn’t anything out of the ordinary: “That group has gone over to the Treasury to talk about cybersecurity risks over a number of years,” he says.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 14, 2026

Nothing is sadder than to watch people stroll past that memorial as if nothing is out of the ordinary, our civic pride and historical perspective crushed under the weight of indifference.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 11, 2026

I spoke without thinking, but Lissa saw nothing out of the ordinary in my words.

From "The Old Willis Place" by Mary Downing Hahn