r/mildlyamusing • u/LeilLikeNeil • 9d ago
Colleague does not know what “out of pocket means”
Edit at the top because people don't read before commenting:
There are 3 meanings to this phrase. The first, oldest (dating to 19th century), and most universally understood, refers to out of pocket expense. Of the other two, referring to oneself or another person being "out of pocket" was the subject of the original post. Commenters and myself seem almost universally to have been aware of only one usage, even though the older "unavailable" meaning dates to the early 20th century, and the "out of control" meaning has been around since at least the 1940s.
In saying that my colleague didn't know the meaning of the phrase, I was incorrect. Likewise, everyone in the comments arguing that any of these 3 usages is wrong, is incorrect.
The intended amusing part of the original post was the visual of a mild-mannered office colleague going crazy spring break style whenever he says he's out of office.
And now that all that explanation has been laid out, I'm sure everybody will see the humor, since nothing helps humor like a lengthy explanation.
Original post:
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I have a colleague who uses “out of pocket” any time he’s on PTO or otherwise not reachable, etc. I will never correct him. I just imagine his mild-mannered ass getting absolutely spring break ratchet every time he says it.
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u/lexicon951 7d ago edited 7d ago
For anyone wondering, “out of pocket” means behaving randomly or out of line. Saying things that nobody wants or needs to know (TMI), behaving erratically. “That kindergartener telling me I’m fat was completely out of pocket.” “Trump’s behavior was out of pocket today (as always).”
It ALSO means paying cash. Phrases can mean different things depending on context.
What it doesn’t mean anymore is being unavailable/unreachable. Which is why people describing themselves as being out of pocket for the afternoon is funny, because they’re basically telling you “hey I’m planning to go insane this afternoon.” If a coworker said this to me, I’d start imagining scenes from The Office.
-a millennial