Out of the question

Out Out (out), adv. [OE. out, ut, oute, ute, AS. [=u]t, and [=u]te, [=u]tan, fr. [=u]t; akin to D. uit, OS. [=u]t, G. aus, OHG. [=u]z, Icel. [=u]t, Sw. ut, Dan. ud, Goth. ut, Skr. ud. [root]198. Cf. {About}, {But}, prep., {Carouse}, {Utter}, a.] In its original and strict sense, out means from the interior of something; beyond the limits or boundary of somethings; in a position or relation which is exterior to something; -- opposed to {in} or {into}. The something may be expressed after of, from, etc. (see {Out of}, below); or, if not expressed, it is implied; as, he is out; or, he is out of the house, office, business, etc.; he came out; or, he came out from the ship, meeting, sect, party, etc. Out is used in a variety of applications, as: [1913 Webster]

1. Away; abroad; off; from home, or from a certain, or a usual, place; not in; not in a particular, or a usual, place; as, the proprietor is out, his team was taken out. Opposite of {in}. ``My shoulder blade is out.'' --Shak. [1913 Webster]

He hath been out (of the country) nine years. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

2. Beyond the limits of concealment, confinement, privacy, constraint, etc., actual or figurative; hence, not in concealment, constraint, etc., in, or into, a state of freedom, openness, disclosure, publicity, etc.; a matter of public knowledge; as, the sun shines out; he laughed out, to be out at the elbows; the secret has leaked out, or is out; the disease broke out on his face; the book is out. [1913 Webster]

Leaves are out and perfect in a month. --Bacon. [1913 Webster]

She has not been out [in general society] very long. --H. James. [1913 Webster]

3. Beyond the limit of existence, continuance, or supply; to the end; completely; hence, in, or into, a condition of extinction, exhaustion, completion; as, the fuel, or the fire, has burned out; that style is on the way out. ``Hear me out.'' --Dryden. [1913 Webster]

Deceitful men shall not live out half their days. --Ps. iv. 23. [1913 Webster]

When the butt is out, we will drink water. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

4. Beyond possession, control, or occupation; hence, in, or into, a state of want, loss, or deprivation; -- used of office, business, property, knowledge, etc.; as, the Democrats went out and the Whigs came in; he put his money out at interest. ``Land that is out at rack rent.'' --Locke. ``He was out fifty pounds.'' --Bp. Fell. [1913 Webster]

I have forgot my part, and I am out. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

5. Beyond the bounds of what is true, reasonable, correct, proper, common, etc.; in error or mistake; in a wrong or incorrect position or opinion; in a state of disagreement, opposition, etc.; in an inharmonious relation. ``Lancelot and I are out.'' --Shak. [1913 Webster]

Wicked men are strangely out in the calculating of their own interest. --South. [1913 Webster]

Very seldom out, in these his guesses. --Addison. [1913 Webster]

6. Not in the position to score in playing a game; not in the state or turn of the play for counting or gaining scores. [1913 Webster]

7. Out of fashion; unfashionable; no longer in current vogue; unpopular. [PJC]

Note: Out is largely used in composition as a prefix, with the same significations that it has as a separate word; as outbound, outbreak, outbuilding, outcome, outdo, outdoor, outfield. See also the first Note under {Over}, adv. [1913 Webster]

{Day in, day out}, from the beginning to the limit of each of several days; day by day; every day.

{Out at}, {Out in}, {Out on}, etc., elliptical phrases, that to which out refers as a source, origin, etc., being omitted; as, out (of the house and) at the barn; out (of the house, road, fields, etc., and) in the woods.

Three fishers went sailing out into the west, Out into the west, as the sun went down. --C. Kingsley.

Note: In these lines after out may be understood, ``of the harbor,'' ``from the shore,'' ``of sight,'' or some similar phrase. The complete construction is seen in the saying: ``Out of the frying pan into the fire.''

{Out from}, a construction similar to {out of} (below). See {Of} and {From}.

{Out of}, a phrase which may be considered either as composed of an adverb and a preposition, each having its appropriate office in the sentence, or as a compound preposition. Considered as a preposition, it denotes, with verbs of movement or action, from the interior of; beyond the limit: from; hence, origin, source, motive, departure, separation, loss, etc.; -- opposed to {in} or {into}; also with verbs of being, the state of being derived, removed, or separated from. Examples may be found in the phrases below, and also under Vocabulary words; as, out of breath; out of countenance.

{Out of cess}, beyond measure, excessively. --Shak.

{Out of character}, unbecoming; improper.

{Out of conceit with}, not pleased with. See under {Conceit}.

{Out of date}, not timely; unfashionable; antiquated.

{Out of door}, {Out of doors}, beyond the doors; from the house; not inside a building; in, or into, the open air; hence, figuratively, shut out; dismissed. See under {Door}, also, {Out-of-door}, {Outdoor}, {Outdoors}, in the Vocabulary. ``He 's quality, and the question's out of door,'' --Dryden.

{Out of favor}, disliked; under displeasure.

{Out of frame}, not in correct order or condition; irregular; disarranged. --Latimer.

{Out of hand}, immediately; without delay or preparation; without hesitation or debate; as, to dismiss a suggestion out of hand. ``Ananias . . . fell down and died out of hand.'' --Latimer.

{Out of harm's way}, beyond the danger limit; in a safe place.

{Out of joint}, not in proper connection or adjustment; unhinged; disordered. ``The time is out of joint.'' --Shak.

{Out of mind}, not in mind; forgotten; also, beyond the limit of memory; as, time out of mind.

{Out of one's head}, beyond commanding one's mental powers; in a wandering state mentally; delirious. [Colloq.]

{Out of one's time}, beyond one's period of minority or apprenticeship.

{Out of order}, not in proper order; disarranged; in confusion.

{Out of place}, not in the usual or proper place; hence, not proper or becoming.

{Out of pocket}, in a condition of having expended or lost more money than one has received.

{Out of print}, not in market, the edition printed being exhausted; -- said of books, pamphlets, etc.

{Out of the question}, beyond the limits or range of consideration; impossible to be favorably considered.

{Out of reach}, beyond one's reach; inaccessible.

{Out of season}, not in a proper season or time; untimely; inopportune.

{Out of sorts}, wanting certain things; unsatisfied; unwell; unhappy; cross. See under {Sort}, n.

{Out of temper}, not in good temper; irritated; angry.

{Out of time}, not in proper time; too soon, or too late.

{Out of time}, not in harmony; discordant; hence, not in an agreeing temper; fretful.

{Out of twist}, {Out of winding}, or {Out of wind}, not in warped condition; perfectly plain and smooth; -- said of surfaces.

{Out of use}, not in use; unfashionable; obsolete.

{Out of the way}. (a) On one side; hard to reach or find; secluded. (b) Improper; unusual; wrong.

{Out of the woods}, not in a place, or state, of obscurity or doubt; free from difficulty or perils; safe. [Colloq.]

{Out to out}, from one extreme limit to another, including the whole length, breadth, or thickness; -- applied to measurements.

{Out West}, in or towards, the West; specifically, in some Western State or Territory. [U. S.]

{To come out}, {To cut out}, {To fall out}, etc. See under {Come}, {Cut}, {Fall}, etc.

{To make out} See {to make out} under {make}, v. t. and v. i..

{To put out of the way}, to kill; to destroy.

{Week in, week out}. See {Day in, day out} (above). [1913 Webster]