# out of sorts

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/out-of-sorts
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

Irritable or somewhat unwell, with vague medical symptoms.

## Examples

- He's been out of sorts all morning.
- I feel out of sorts because I did not sleep well last night.
- You look a bit out of sorts; do you have a headache?
- She felt out of sorts after the long flight and went straight to bed.
- The baby has been out of sorts since his vaccinations, crying more than usual and refusing to eat his lunch.
- My coworker seems out of sorts today, so I will wait until tomorrow to ask him for that favor.
- The rainy weather always makes me feel out of sorts and less productive than I usually am at the office.
- Though he could not name what ailed him, he had been out of sorts for days, listless and prone to sudden irritation.

## Origin

Derived from the technical vocabulary of the printing house, where a sort refers to a single piece of metal type for a specific character. The condition describes a compositor who has exhausted his supply of a particular letter, thus rendering him unable to complete his work and likely in a state of professional irritation.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.