out of order
28
2.1
- idiom
:
averiado
- All the vending machines are out of order, so I couldn't buy a snack.
Examples
-
My phone's been out of order for three months, and they keep promising me they'll fix it mañana.
Fiction book (1999) -
"Yes, it's been out of order all year,"
-
I called first, but your line was out of order.
-
A sign in front of it says "Out of Order."
Fiction book (1996) -
Your phones are out of order.
-
The phones were still out of order.
Fiction book (1994) -
The lift was silent because it was out of order.
Fiction book (2000) -
Des Laumes remained behind, looking around as if suspicious that something was out of order.
Fiction book (1998) -
The elevator in my apartment building has been out of order for a week now.
-
When I tried to print the document, I found the printer was out of order.
Synonyms
∞
1.0
Not working correctly
547
2.9
Not working because of a fault or repair
81
3.4
Not able to be used, reached, or bought
30
7.5
Not working properly or behaving in the usual way
15
3.5
Not working or available to use, often for a short time
7
7.1
You cannot use it because it does not work
2
7.2
Not working because it is broken
2
7.7
Not working correctly and not in balance
Not working properly so a machine or system cannot work as it should
Not operating or being used
Broken or not in use
Antonyms
How Functional
Surface Forms
Morphology
out + of + order
The phrase composes 'out (of)' meaning 'not in' with 'order' meaning 'proper arrangement or functioning', so 'out of order' transparently conveys 'not working' or 'not in proper order'. This is a common, compositional pattern (cf. French hors service, Spanish fuera de servicio) and a B1 learner who knows the constituents can reasonably infer the MWE meaning.
Etymology
Out of order may come from the image of a machine whose parts are not in the right place: when something is out of order, its pieces are out of place and the machine cannot work. That's why the phrase means 'not working' or 'broken'.