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

out in left field • out in the field
out in left field —(also: way out in left field) 
1
. (of a person)
unusual and eccentric or out of contact with reality: Sally is
a lot of fun, but she’s sort of out in left field. 2. (of an idea,
answer, etc.) mistaken, strange and illogical: What he said was
totally out in left field. He has no idea what we were talking
about.
out in the field —on the warpath; ready for a fight or quarrel:
I should keep away from there; her father is out in the field
looking for trouble.
out in the blue • out of the blue
out in the blue —
1
. out in the sea or ocean: Scorpionfish can
be found around the deeper coral blocks. With a little luck
you can see Mantas cruising out in the blue. 2. (RAF, WWII)
isolated in the desert, specifically in North Africa: Although
“out in the blue” in Bengal, RAF Digri was a well established
heavy bomber base.
Note: 
The expression does not correlate in meaning with the
phrase up in the blue— aboard an aircraft; in flight: If only
you could know how happy I am when I fly a plane! I never
feel so completely close to God as when I’m up in the blue.
operating theater
– 258 –

---

out of the blue —quite unexpectedly; without warning: I got
an encouragement out of the blue in the form of an honorary
degree from Berlin.
See also: in blue / in the blue.
out of a place • out of place
out of a place —unemployed: Did you hear about Bob? He
is out of a place, according to the human resources depart-
ment.
out of place —
1
. inappropriate; unacceptable: A man in a
round hat is as out of place at a hunt as a man in a tweed suit
at a ball. 2. = out of a place: It is an ancient custom for servants
out of place to assemble, once a year, in some great town, for
the purpose of being hired.