ENGLISH
REFERENCE

out there

idiom.
B1 Intermediate Oxford

idiom. you use this to describe something that is very strange, unusual, or different from what most people think is normal.

idiom. an informal predicative adjective phrase used to describe ideas, people, or styles that are eccentric, unconventional, or extreme.


SIMPLE

His fashion sense is a bit out there.

CONTEXTUAL

Some of the conspiracy theories on that website are really out there and hard to believe.

COMPLEX

While the director's early films were grounded in realism, his latest project is quite out there, featuring surrealist imagery and a non-linear plot.

Usage

usually follows a linking verb like 'be' or 'get' and is common in casual conversation.

Teaching tip

explain that while 'out there' can literally mean 'in the world' (e.g., 'the truth is out there'), this idiomatic sense specifically targets eccentricity or weirdness.

Pitfall

He is an out there person.He is a bit out there.this phrase is almost always used after a verb rather than directly before a noun.

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