out of the ordinary
Meaning(s)
1. unusual or different
Popularity
High
Professional
High
Social
How to Memorize
nothing out of the ordinary
Analysis
Something which is ‘out of the ordinary’ is strange, different, surprising or unexpected. This idiomatic expression can have a positive or negative connotation and is used in both social and professional contexts.
Social Examples (Basic)
- The police looked for clues in the suspect's apartment but found nothing out of the ordinary there.
- I didn't notice anything out of the ordinary about Peter that day. You never would have guessed that he had just lost his job.
Professional Examples (Basic)
- Discipline at the company was very poor. It was not out of the ordinary to see staff sat having a chat even during the busiest time of the day.
- This kind of drop in market share is highly out of the ordinary, we need to identify the reasons immediately.