out of joint

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out of joint

1. Literally, of a bone, dislocated from its socket or joint. It appears from the X-ray that your bone has been put out of joint from the impact.

2. In or into a tumultuous, disordered, unsatisfactory, improper or abnormal way or mode. The characters' lives are thrown out of joint when they are drafted into the military just after graduating from high school. The stock market has remained out of joint ever since the president's decision to pursue a trade war sent shares plummeting to their lowest point in eight years last month.

See also: joint, of, out

out of joint

1. Dislocated, as in Trying to break his fall, he put his shoulder out of joint. [Late 1300s]

2. See nose out of joint.

3. Out of order, inauspicious or unsatisfactory, as in The entire lineup of our team is out of joint. Shakespeare had this term in Hamlet (1:5): "The time is out of joint." [Early 1400s]

See also: joint, of, out

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

out of joint

1 (of a specified joint) out of position; dislocated. 2 in a state of disorder or disorientation.

2 1601 William Shakespeare Hamlet The time is out of joint.

See also: joint, of, out

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

out of ˈjoint

1 (of a bone) pushed out of its correct position
2 not working or behaving in the normal way: Time is thrown completely out of joint in the opening chapters of the book.

See also: joint, of, out

out of joint

1. Dislocated, as a bone.

2. Informal

a. Not harmonious; inconsistent.

b. Out of order; inauspicious or unsatisfactory.

c. In bad spirits or humor; out of sorts.

See also: joint, of, out

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.