IdiomDaily Life
English
Englishout of circulation
Meaning: Removed from the public; no longer available for use or social interaction.
Example: “Since the baby was born, we've been out of circulation.”
Origin: Coins and banknotes withdrawn from use are taken out of circulation. The figurative sense for a person no longer seen socially is common from the 20th century.
More English idioms
- over the top Beyond expectations; outside normal or accepted boundaries; exaggerated.
- paint someone a picture To explain something in very great detail.
- Pandora's box A situation that contains many unexpected and unwanted problems and consequences.
- par for the course Usual or to be expected; typical.
- past one's prime Too old to be of much value.
- the patience of Job Unlimited patience; the willingness to endure hardship patiently.
Explore another collection: Tongue Twisters
Tricky phrases to practice out loud, from languages around the world.
- How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood? A 'w/ch/ck' drill that accelerates comically — and nobody really knows the answer.
- The sixth sick sheikh's sixth sheep's sick. Believed by Guinness to be among the hardest in English — 'six/sick/sheikh/sheep' blur in…
- Betty Botter bought some butter, but she said the butter's bitter. A 'b / t / tt' plosive drill that bounces between Betty, butter, and bitter.
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