be out of the way

1. To be very distant or remote. His new house is really out of the way—it will take us hours to get there. Aw man, her place is so out of the way that it's a major hassle to go and visit her. I don't know why their stadium is so out of the way. Who wants to drive this far to see a football game?

2. To not be along the planned route. In this usage, a possessive adjective can be used in place of "the." We can't stop at the bookstore today because it's out of the way, and we have a lot of errands to run. I can't go to her house tonight, it's totally out of my way. Thanks so much for giving me a ride home—I know my place is out of the way for you.

3. To be somewhere where something is not a physical impediment. In this usage, a possessive adjective can be used in place of "the." Your books need to be out of the way so I can run the vacuum. I'm so glad that those boxes are finally out of my way, and I can actually move around the kitchen. Come on, this furniture needs to be out of the way before the painters get here.

4. To be completed, finished, or resolved. Often said of something unpleasant. I'll be very happy when this required course in British Literature is out of the way and I can get back to the American poets I love. Now that the financial details are out of the way, let's see which cars you can afford. Once small talk was out of the way, my date and I quickly found that we had nothing in common.

5. To be strange or unusual. It's out of the way for my little boy to want to sleep all day, so he must not be feeling well. A: "But Mary Alice is so shy! It's definitely out of the way for her to get up and do karaoke." B: "I think she was trying to impress her new friends." Andrew wants to start a business selling bees as pets? Yeah, that's actually not out of the way for him—he's always been an odd fella.

6. slang To be dead. This phrase can also be used as a euphemism for being murdered. Now that George is out of the way, we'll be able to take over the company. Frankie needs to be out of the way before he goes to the cops and tells them all about us. Is that rat Joey out of the way? Good, now no one can expose how we really make money.

7. slang To be drunk. Do you remember last night at the pub at all? You were out of the way! Help him get home, will ya? He started drinking whiskey, and now he's totally out of the way. You were out of the way last night, stumbling in here reeking of alcohol!