密歇根新闻广播 人们对out of pocket的不同理解

Sometimes we like to ask people what a particular word or phrase means to them. Sometimes when we do that, we get several completely different answers.

Take out-of-pocket, for example.

When two of our Michigan Radio colleagues asked us about this phrase, they said they use it to talk about being unavailable. For example, someone might say, I'll be out of pocket this morning, but I'll be back in the office this afternoon.

But we've always thought about out-of-pocket in terms of money such as out-of-pocket expenses, that is, expenses you have to cover yourself. Another person told us that they use it to talk about someone's bad behavior, e.g. He was acting¹ out-of-pocket.

So how did we get here?

The first use of out-of-pocket is related to money. This is actually the oldest meaning and goes back to the 17th century. In this case, to be out-of-pocket meant that you were broke. Around this time we see expressions like He was 700 pounds out of pocket and I'm a little out-of-pocket at present.

On the flip-side, to be in-pocket meant to have money.

Out-of-pocket as a way to talk about being unavailable shows up around the beginning of the 20th century. Unfortunately, we're not entirely² sure where this meaning comes from.

Some have speculated³ that it may be related to the expression of being in a person's pocket, if you're in someone's pocket, that means you're under their control. On the other hand, if you're not in someone's pocket, you're not able to be controlled, that is, you're unavailable.

From what we can tell, the third meaning of out-of-pocket, to be out-of-line or act in an unacceptable way, comes from African-American usage⁴. Jonathon Green includes it in Cassell's Dictionary of Slang⁵ in 1998. He speculates⁶ that it comes from pool jargon⁷, where an out-of-pocket shot requires someone to miss a turn, thus creating a bad situation.

Do you use out-of-pocket in a different way?

1 acting   

n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的

参考例句：

• Ignore her,she's just acting.别理她，她只是假装的。
• During the seventies,her acting career was in eclipse.在七十年代，她的表演生涯黯然失色。

2 entirely   

ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The fire was entirely caused by their neglect of duty. 那场火灾完全是由于他们失职而引起的。
• His life was entirely given up to the educational work. 他的一生统统献给了教育工作。

3 speculated   

思索，猜测，推测( speculate的过去式和过去分词 )； 投机

参考例句：

• We all speculated about the reasons for her resignation. 我们大家都推测过她辞职的原因。
• The philosopher speculated about the future of the human race. 那位哲学家考虑过人类的前途。

4 usage   

n.惯用法，使用，用法

参考例句：

• I am clear about the usage of this word at last.这个词的用法我算是弄明白了。
• The usage is now firmly established.这种用法现已得到确认。

5 slang   

n.俚语，行话；vt.使用俚语，辱骂；vi.辱骂

参考例句：

• The phrase is labelled as slang in the dictionary.这个短语在这本字典里被注为俚语。
• Slang often goes in and out of fashion quickly.俚语往往很快风行起来又很快不再风行了。

6 speculates   

思索，猜测，推测( speculate的第三人称单数 )； 投机

参考例句：

• And then look at the way he speculates in government bonds: huh! 他又要做公债——哼！ 来自子夜部分
• Cameron defends Cole and House speculates that she wants to control him. Cameron保护Cole,House推测她想控制他。

7 jargon   

n.术语，行话

参考例句：

• They will not hear critics with their horrible jargon.他们不愿意听到评论家们那些可怕的行话。
• It is important not to be overawed by the mathematical jargon.要紧的是不要被数学的术语所吓倒.