out of its element
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The sheep, out of its element and skittish from the crashing waves, ruined the first day of the session, so a veterinarian was called in to tranquilize the animal for day two.
From New York Times ● Jun. 1, 2023
Here, a house shoe out of its element almost makes sense, in the way that the plot for the movie “Tenet” almost makes sense when you paradoxically accept that it doesn’t make sense at all.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 15, 2023
The City Opera orchestra sounded a bit raggedy and out of its element in the Rameau.
From New York Times ● Mar. 26, 2018
Unlike most musicals, “Once” is most at home in the depths; it’s on the surface that it feels out of its element.
From New York Times ● Dec. 7, 2011
Adj. displaced &c. v.; unplaced, unhoused†, unharbored†, unestablished†, unsettled; houseless†, homeless; out of place, out of a situation; in the wrong place. misplaced, out of its element.
From Roget's Thesaurus of English Words and Phrases by Peter Mark Roget
