Say it like this
- I'm out of pocket this afternoon.
- Sorry, I was out of pocket yesterday.
- I'll be out of pocket while I travel.
Use it at work
Telling people you're unavailable
- I'll be out of pocket from 1 to 3.
- Heads-up, I'm out of pocket tomorrow morning.
Apologising for a slow reply
- Sorry, I was out of pocket yesterday.
- I was out of pocket at the offsite, catching up now.
Talking about money
- You won't be out of pocket; we'll reimburse you.
- Keep receipts for out-of-pocket expenses.
Don't say this
The phrase is fixed: no "my".
Don't mix it up
| Term | What it is | Who writes or uses it | When |
|---|---|---|---|
| out of pocket | unavailable for a while | US offices | short absences |
| out-of-pocket costs | money you pay yourself | finance, HR, everyone | expenses and refunds |
| OOO | out of office | everyone | a planned absence, often longer |
Practice
Try it
4 quick exercises
1. You are writing to an international team and will be unreachable this afternoon. What is clearest?
2. Sorry I missed your call, I was _______ at the client site all day.
3. Which sentence uses out of pocket in the US work sense?
4. Rewrite for a global team: 'I'm out of pocket tomorrow morning.'
Say it out loud
Phrase 1 of 3
"I'm out of pocket this afternoon."
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More about out of pocket
Real examples(3)
- in Slack
"I'll be out of pocket from 1 to 3 for a doctor's appointment."
- in an email reply
"Sorry for the slow reply, I was out of pocket at a conference."
- money meaning
"Travel costs are reimbursed, so you won't be out of pocket."
More mistakes(2)
Handle with care. Three meanings: unavailable, money you paid, and rude slang. With global teams, use a clearer word.
- ✕Out of pocket (to a UK or Indian colleague)✓I won't be available this afternoon.
Outside the US, people may think you mean money. Say "unavailable" instead.
- ✕That comment was out of pocket. (in a work email)✓That comment wasn't appropriate.
The slang meaning is very informal and not right for work email.
Other forms(2)
- out-of-pocket expenses adjective (money)
"Submit your out-of-pocket expenses by Friday."
- be out of pocket phrase
"I'll be out of pocket Monday morning."
Often used with(3)
- be out of pocket · be unavailable (US work meaning)
- out-of-pocket costs / expenses · money you pay yourself
- leave someone out of pocket · make them lose money
Similar words(3)
- unavailable · clear for everyone
- away / offline · simple
- OOO · out of office, for longer absences
Opposites(3)
- available
- reachable
- online
Questions(4)
- What does out of pocket mean at work?
- In US workplaces, it usually means you are unavailable or hard to reach for a period of time.
- What are out-of-pocket expenses?
- Costs you pay with your own money, which your company may pay back later.
- What does out of pocket mean in slang?
- In modern slang, it means a comment or action was rude, wild or inappropriate.
- Should I use out of pocket with non-US colleagues?
- Better not. Say "unavailable" or "offline", because they may think you are talking about money.
