outside the comfort zone
Meaning(s)
1. a situation in which someone feels insecure, uncomfortable, or out of control
Popularity
High
Professional
High
Social
How to Memorize
go outside of your comfort zone
Analysis
The idiom ’to be outside your comfort zone’ means to be in a situation or position where you are insecure, uncomfortable or pushed beyond your capabilities or usual responsibilities. If you are outside your comfort zone, you do not feel safe or confident. This is a popular idiom used in both social and professional contexts.
Social Examples (Basic)
- As someone who is afraid of heights, doing that bungee jump was totally out of my comfort zone.
- The great thing about foreign travel is that it takes you outside of your comfort zone and allows you to experience new things.
Professional Examples (Basic)
- When employees are encouraged to fail and learn they are more likely to step out of their comfort zone and take risks.
- Inability to step out of their comfort zone is what stops many companies from innovating.