He's been out of sorts all morning.
out of sorts
idiomIrritable or somewhat unwell, with vague medical symptoms.
Origin
disputed originComes from printing terminology where "sort" means a metal type for printing a particular letter.
She felt out of sorts after the long flight and went straight to bed.
Though he could not name what ailed him, he had been out of sorts for days, listless and prone to sudden irritation.
Last updated April 17, 2026