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out front

out front

272 2.3
At the front of a building or outside the main entrance
  • idiom
: en la entrada
  • I saw your sign out front.
  • parked out front
  • a car out front
  • meet you out front

You know, because every time we call you out to come out front, come out front.

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Examples

  • Now meet me out front.

  • Then a car pulled up out front, and a flashing light revolved across the ceiling.

    Fiction book (1998)
  • Do you see all those people out front?

  • Uh, listen, if you could wait out front for 15 minutes...

  • I saw her car parked out front.

  • If you all come on out front, we'll start getting this paperwork out of the way.

  • Our whole transaction took place out front at the curb.

    Fiction book (1998)
  • This is right out front of the iconic Northwest Mutual Tower complex.

  • Out front, the big sign says, "Doors Open at 12:00 Noon."

  • Do you see all those people out front?

Synonyms

in front
vsout front
∞ 1.0

At a place ahead of someone or something

is specifically outside a building entrance rather than any forward position
in front of
vsout front
∞ 1.0

Ahead of or facing something where people can see it

is used for location outside a building entrance not merely facing someone

Antonyms

320 1.0

Near the middle of something, not at the outer edge

3 5.1

To have its rear facing another place

Surface Forms

out front positive

Morphology

out + front

The meaning 'in a position at the front of a building or outside the main entrance' is directly and transparently derived from combining 'out' (outside) with 'front' (the side/entrance). This is a straightforward locative composition common in English and other languages, so a B1 learner who knows both words will readily infer the MWE meaning.

Etymology

Out front comes from the simple picture of something or someone placed out at the front of a house or building, by the door. That's why it means 'in a position at the front of a building' or 'outside the main entrance'.