out of joint

1. See nose out of joint .

2. Out of order, inauspicious or unsatisfactory, as in The entire lineup of our team is out of joint . Shakespeare had this term in Hamlet (1:5): “The time is out of joint.” [Early 1400s]

3. Dislocated, as in Trying to break his fall, he put his shoulder out of joint . [Late 1300s]

Example Sentences

The ill-conditioned think all things awry, and the whole world out-of-joint.

From Project Gutenberg

Anna nearly forgot her out-of-joint arm when the four reached the marsh.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• adrift
• astray
• bewildered
• lost
• perplexed
• unhinged
• unsettled