out of practice

Idioms  

1. No longer used to doing something, no longer adept for lack of doing something, as in Mom hadn't baked a cake in years—she said she was out of practice. [Late 1800s] Also see in practice.

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

out of practice

Obviously, you won’t be doing this full time, but it’s important to be able to show a potential employer that you have been working whatever mental muscle they believe might be out of practice.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 26, 2026

James was held out of practice for the second straight day Wednesday, but still participated in individual drills, Redick said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 1, 2025

"I feel out of practice in a way, because by the time I do race it will be 10 months," she told BBC Sport.

From BBC ● May 13, 2025

The Seahawks signed veteran Sean Mannion to the practice squad and held Smith out of practice last Friday, hoping he’d improve enough to play.

From Seattle Times ● Dec. 15, 2023

Besides, I was out of practice in talking to him: his reserve was again frozen over, and my frankness was congealed beneath it.

From "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Brontë