out of pocket

English

Alternative forms

• out-of-pocket (adjective only, in attributive position only)

Pronunciation

• Audio (AU)

  (file)

Adverb

out of pocket

1. (idiomatic) Lacking funds, or suffering a financial loss; broke.
   • 1938, Norman Lindsay, Age of Consent, 1st Australian edition, Sydney, N.S.W.: Ure Smith, published 1962, →OCLC, page 17:

     A local doctor had bought one canvas and but for that lucky chance he would have been out of pocket.

   After three races he was £10 out of pocket.

2. (idiomatic, of a person) Not available; unable to be reached.
   • 2006, Lauren Dane, Sudden Desire, page 20:

     Like a coward, he called his agent's work number and left a voicemail that he'd be out of pocket for several days but would try to check his messages here and there.

   • 2011, Boyd Morrison, chapter 4, in The Catalyst:

     Sir, Senders is still in Yosemite camping with his family. He'll be out of pocket until tomorrow night.

   • 2012, Vicki Hinze, Acts of Honor, page 196:

     I'm going to be out of pocket for a while. Doing some...training.

3. (idiomatic) Wild or inappropriate; unexpected.

Adjective

out of pocket

1. Of or pertaining to the spending of cash rather than using credit.

   I had lots of out-of-pocket expenses.

2. (slang) Shocking and unexpected or inappropriate.
   • 2020 April 14, Chris (@notchr15), Twitter‎:

     A thread of the most hilarious outta pocket tweets. Feel free to add on

Prepositional phrase

out of pocket

1. Synonym of out of one's own pocket.

   pay out of pocket for medication

   • 2015 September 16, Andy Marra, “Many trans people still are denied healthcare because of their identity”, in The Guardian‎:

     Over a decade ago I came out as a transgender woman and began to navigate my transition. That’s when I was confronted by the harsh fact that transition-related healthcare was often not covered by insurance and instead largely paid for out of pocket.

Derived terms

• OOP

References