out of work

Idioms  

1. Unemployed; also, having no work to do. For example, He lost his job a year ago and has been out of work ever since, or They don't give her enough assignments—she's always out of work. Shakespeare used this expression in Henry V (1:2): “All out of work and cold for action.”

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

out of work

The 52-metre long rocket has caused a stir among locals, with some "sneaking out" of work for a glimpse, and others preparing their boats for a closer look at the debris.

From BBC ● Aug. 19, 2026

At the Vidin-Calafat bridge connecting Bulgaria and Romania across the Danube, Bulgarian fishermen complained of being out of work because the low water levels had trapped their boats onshore.

From Barron's ● Jul. 30, 2026

The figure makes it clear that some jobs could see relatively large increases in transitions out of work, while others are mostly unaffected.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 17, 2026

The number of Americans out of work for 27 weeks or more hasn’t meaningfully budged since last summer, hovering near the highest level since late 2021.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 15, 2026

Over the next two years, many southern blacks found themselves out of work or working for next to nothing, earning barely enough to cover basic necessities.

From "A Few Red Drops: The Chicago Race Riot of 1919" by Claire Hartfield