To Be Out Of (Something)
Context #1:
Jimmy: Oh man!
Mark: What’s wrong?
Jimmy: We’re out of coffee! I’d better go to the store and get some more. I really need my cup of coffee in the morning. I’ll be back.
Context #2:
Restaurant Waiter: Hi, are you guys ready to order?
Restaurant Customer: Yeah, I’ll have the fresh lobster.
Restaurant Waiter: I’m sorry but we are out right now. The shrimp is really good too.
Restaurant Customer: Ok, I’ll try the shrimp.
Meaning: to be out of something means that there is no more left. The thing that was available before has been used up.
This idiom was taken from LSI’s book titled Speaking Transitions. This book is used to teach Level 4 Speaking classes at LSI schools. For more information please visit: www.languagesystems.com
