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Glite Dictionary
out of doors

out of doors

1 3.2
Outside in the open air, not inside a building
  • idiom
  • /aʊt əv dɔrz/
translation icon : al aire libre
  • He prefers to work out of doors rather than being stuck in an office all day.
  • step out of doors

Not so field notes, or to stay within Jane Jacobs powerful neighborhood optic little slips of paper of other kinds which circulate in and out of doors.

Examples

  • Out of doors, they stepped into a blue night, star-bright and soft and warm as velvet.

    Fiction book (1990)

  • I prefer being out of doors.

    Pride & Prejudice (2005)

  • I think I'd be better out of doors.

    Tess (1979)

  • In his day, a gentleman rarely stepped out of doors without some sort of head covering, summer or winter.

    Fiction book (2001)

  • You know, there's nothing so refreshing as an afternoon out of doors in enemy territory.

    Fear and Desire (1953)

  • I should go back to sleep, she told herself, but was instantly wide awake, knowing that she must be up and about, out of doors in the pearly cool of the new day.

    Fiction book (1998)

  • Out of doors, the day, like a fickle woman, had ceased to sulk and decided, for no obvious reason, to brighten up.

    Fiction book (1990)

  • After being cooped up all day, she loved spending time out of doors in the fresh air.

  • On weekends, they often gather out of doors to enjoy the sunshine and nature.

Synonyms

out
vsout of doors
∞ 1.0

Away from the inside of a place

is specific to being physically in the open air away from buildings
outside
vsout of doors
∞ 1.0

In the open air, not inside

is focused on being specifically away from buildings rather than general place
outdoors
vsout of doors
80 1.0

In the open air, not inside a building

is the multiword phrase that says the same
out-of-doors
vsout of doors
  • Archaic
1 3.2

The open air away from buildings

is the spaced multiword form used in normal writing
alfresco
vsout of doors
5.5

Outside, usually for eating or other activities

is a general location term not focused on activities or meals

Antonyms

indoors
95 1.0

To be inside a building rather than outside

How Exposed

in the open
104 2.5
out of doors
1 3.2
indoors
95 1.0

Surface Forms

out of doors positive
out of doors positive

Morphology

out + of + door

The phrase 'out of doors' is a straightforward compositional locative expression: 'out' (away from the interior) combined with a place-denoting element ('door(s)') yields the meaning 'outside'. This out + place pattern is common in English and cross-linguistically, so a B1 learner who knows the constituent words would readily infer the meaning.

Etymology

Out of doors comes from the simple image of going past the house door into the open air. So, to be out of doors means 'outside' a building or in the 'open air'.