on the outs

Definitions

On unfriendly terms; estranged.

US, idiomatic

Equivalents

Examples

“I marvel that a mind⟳ on the outs with itself should have⟳ nevertheless made a painstaking record⟳ of its every tremor.”

“A second ill of this day lies in the trend of getting more and more on the outs with those who have⟳ been more successful than we.”

“1977-1980, Lou Sullivan, personal diary, quoted in 2019, Ellis Martin, Zach Ozma (editors), We Both Laughed In Pleasure He's staying at my place⟳ because he & Bridg are on the outs.”

“"The first country, Nicaragua, was a give-away," noted one State Department observer, referring to the GSP review⟳ of the country most on the outs with the administration.”

“The fact that he and her sister seemed to be more on the outs than ever may have⟳ been half her motivation in leaving the door open⟳ a crack.”

CEFR level