Dear Word Detective: I am having an argument with my brother. He insists that the phrase "out of pocket" refers to expenditure from one's own resources, with the expectation of later reimbursement. I contend that one is "out of pocket" when one cannot be reached, is outside of the place where one can contact or be contacted... ...the bottom line is that you're both right, although your brother is a bit more likely to be clearly understood when he uses "out of pocket."
Dear Word Detective: I am having an argument with my brother. He insists that the phrase "out of pocket" refers to expenditure from one's own resources, with the expectation of later reimbursement. I contend that one is "out of pocket" when one cannot be reached, is outside of the place where one can contact or be contacted...
...the bottom line is that you're both right, although your brother is a bit more likely to be clearly understood when he uses "out of pocket."
[ Previous Columns/Posted 01/20/00 ]
Well, I haven't started arguing yet, but I've noticed that Mikah has been using the phrase a lot, and now it seems Andy has too. I agree with the above guys brother. Out of Pocket means that you have to expense something and get reimbursed later. A second possible meaning is that you have used all of your pocket up and there is no more. How it could mean unreachable, I just don't know.
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