out to lunch

Idioms  

1. Not in touch with the real world, crazy; also, inattentive. For example, If he believes that story, he's really out to lunch, or Anne hasn't heard a word you said—she's out to lunch. This expression transfers a temporary physical absence for the purpose of eating to a temporary or permanent mental absence. [Slang; mid-1900s]

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Example Sentences

But one way or another, I’ll get to that finish line to claim my finisher’s medal, and then I’ll go out to lunch with my family and Jonah’s.

From Literature

On the particular afternoon that Camille is out to lunch with Irene and Lisa, she’s feeling similarly unhappy.

From Salon

All I can say is that my brain is out to lunch or something.

From Literature

Office workers out to lunch got an impromptu lesson on its parts.

From Los Angeles Times

"There's already a rat infestation around here now. They are coming out to lunch every day," he said.

From BBC

Related Words

• dull
• dumb
• foolish
• futile
• ill-advised
• irrelevant
• laughable
• ludicrous
• naive
• senseless
• shortsighted
• simple
• trivial