A dictionary of Confusable Phrases: More Than 10,000 Idioms and Collocations

out of it • well out of it
out of it—
1
. excluded from the activities of those around
one: I felt rather out of it in France because I can’t speak
French. 2. not fully alert and aware of what is happening: Bill
is really out of it today. Why can’t he pay attention? 3. (sl.)
alcohol or drug intoxicated: He is simply, to use his own
phrase, “out of it.” Whether drunk or very drunk, he seems
to have long decided which questions he will answer.
well out of it—
1
. = out of it 
1
: We decided to keep well out
of it. However when the purge began, we were labeled an anti-
revolution clique without any reason. 2. lucky to escape smth.:
Stanley Bruce, having left a legacy of debt and deficit behind
him, was happy to be well out of it.
See also: beyond it / off it; not in it / not with it.
out of line • out of one’s line
out of line —
1
. set at an angle or placed off-center: If you
don’t replace those parts, the wheels will get out of line, caus-
ing excessive tire wear. 2. (of smb.’s behavior, etc.) uncommon;
unacceptable: I thought your behavior at the meeting was a
bit out of line.
Note: 
The expression does not correlate in meaning with the
phrase off line—(of computers) not connected to the Internet:
Working off-line, complete the information requested within
the application form and return via e-mail.
out of one’s line —(also: not in one’s line) said of smth. un -
suited to one’s capacity, taste, or interests: Versification is out
of my line, else I should have had a try at it.
out of mind • out of one’s mind
out of mind —
1
. (in the phrase “time out of mind”) used of
the distant past long forgotten: On those visits, he found peo-
ple living a lifestyle that was time out of mind. 2. said of
things completely forgotten: I got this information from an
interview that I read many years ago, source now out of mind.
out of one’s mind —(also: out of one’s head) crazy or behaving
as if mad: The poor girl is completely out of her mind! Just
look at what she’s doing!