When a machine or device is out of order it is not functioning properly or at all. When a person is out of order they are not behaving within normal expectations, rules, standards, conventions, etc. The phrase is also applied to object or even people arranged in an orderly sequence.
Meaning Of Idiom ‘Out of Order’
1. Not in the correct place in a sequence; not in alphabetical order, etc.
2. Used to describe a machine, appliance, or device that is not functioning well; not operating properly; broken or inoperable.
3. Inappropriate or unsuitable, especially for a given situation.
4. Not following the correct parliamentary procedure or standards of behavior.
5. Not using correct behavior in a court of law or not following the correct procedures.
Sentence Examples
“The safety handbook is out of order. Can you please put the pages back into their proper places?”
“All the books in this library are out of order. Nothing is in the right place on the shelf.”
“The soda machine is out of order again and I’m so thirsty.”
“I couldn’t get you a milkshake. The milkshake machine at McDonald’s is out of order again!”
“I can’t clean up that mess in the restroom right now. Just put an out of order sign on the door.”
“I admit that what I said about my predecessor was out of order, but you have to admit, things have improved greatly since we took over.”
“You’re motion to adjourn is out of order! We still have a motion on the floor.”
“Mr. Blake, you are out of order! One more outburst like that and I’ll have you removed from this court!”
Out of Order Origin
Since the 1400s, being “in order” has meant to be “in the proper arrangement or sequence.” Out of order came to mean not in the proper arrangement or sequence by the 1540s. This usage extended principally to mechanical or other devices not operating properly since when the parts of a device are not in their proper arrangement, the device will not function. The meaning in regards to parliamentary procedures or court rules came later, by the late 1800s.