Also Step Out
Meaning of Idiom ‘Step Outside’
To step outside means to go outside for a brief period.
Step out can also mean to go out for the evening.
To step out with someone is to go out with someone on a date. Both these uses are rare today. 1Ammer, Christine. American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2013., 2Heacock, Paul. Cambridge Dictionary of American Idioms. Cambridge: Cambridge UP, 2010.
Usage
Step outside is sometimes shortened to ‘step out’ as in “Mr. Johnson just stepped out of the office for a cigarette.”
Examples Of Use
“I’m going to step outside a moment. I’ll be back soon.”
“Is Ms. Peloski in?” asked Jim. “He just stepped outside. I’m sure she’ll be back in a few moments,” said Nancy.
Origin
Used since the early 1900’s.
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- Showing Out Meaning
- Out of Order
- Get Out of My Hair
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