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]

Example Sentences

"My nose was a bit out of joint for a few hours," Towler told BBC News.

From BBC

"I agree there is an issue of sorts and I see why it might put people's noses out of joint, but there has to be a compromise," she told the BBC.

From BBC

The party has soared during his tenure, but it is also true that the now former chairman put rather a lot of noses out of joint within Reform.

From BBC

In short: The whole framework of this trip has slipped wildly out of joint since it was planned two months ago.

From Slate

The viewer will sense right away that the problem lies not with Jo but with the world, however much the world regards Jo as out of joint.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• adrift 
• astray 
• bewildered 
• lost 
• perplexed 
• unhinged 
• unsettled