How do you use "Out of sorts" in a sentence?

I'm feeling a bit out of sorts today. He's been out of sorts since the weekend. Something's left me out of sorts.

Out of sorts

Q: What does "Out of sorts" mean?

Feeling slightly unwell or not quite right. 'Feeling out of sorts' means not feeling yourself—mildly unwell or just off. Non-specific British expression for general malaise. 'A bit out of sorts' covers everything from tiredness to the beginning of illness.

Slang Term BritishAmericanAustralian ★★★★★ Very Common Neutral

Meaning: Feeling slightly unwell or not quite right.

身体不舒服或心情不好

Sentirse mal o de mal humor

体調が悪い、または機嫌が悪い

몸이 좀 안 좋거나 평소 같지 않은.

'Feeling out of sorts' means not feeling yourself—mildly unwell or just off. Non-specific British expression for general malaise. 'A bit out of sorts' covers everything from tiredness to the beginning of illness.

温和地描述感觉不太对劲——无论是身体不适、情绪低落，还是只是一般性的烦躁。比具体的抱怨更模糊、更温和，通常在说不清楚哪里不对的时候使用。

Una forma suave de describir que no te encuentras del todo bien, ya sea físicamente indispuesto, emocionalmente decaído o simplemente irritable. Es más vago y suave que quejas específicas, se usa a menudo cuando no puedes identificar exactamente qué te pasa.

何かしっくりこない感じを穏やかに表す言い方。体調が悪い、気分が優れない、または何となくイライラするなど。具体的な訴えよりも曖昧で穏やかで、何が悪いのかはっきりしないときに使われることが多い。

'feeling out of sorts'는 평소 같지 않다는 뜻으로, 가볍게 아프거나 뭔가 좀 이상한 느낌을 말한다. 전반적인 불쾌감을 나타내는 영국식 표현이다. 'a bit out of sorts'는 단순한 피곤함부터 병의 초기 증상까지 다양하게 쓰인다.

Examples

I'm feeling a bit out of sorts today.
我今天感觉有点不对劲
hoy me encuentro un poco pachuchillo
今日はちょっと調子が悪い
오늘 좀 컨디션이 안 좋아.
He's been out of sorts since the weekend.
自从那次争吵后她一直不太对劲
ha estado de bajón desde la discusión
口論してからずっと機嫌が悪い
그가 주말부터 계속 컨디션이 안 좋대.
Something's left me out of sorts.
宝宝不太舒服，可能在长牙
el bebé está irritable, probablemente le están saliendo los dientes
赤ちゃんの機嫌が悪い。たぶん歯が生えてきているんだろう
뭔가 때문에 몸이 좀 안 좋아.

Pronunciation

/aʊt əv sɔːts/

Usage Guide

Context: illness, mood, malaise

Tone: mild concern, understated

✓ Do Say

Out of sorts
不太对劲
No me encuentro bien
調子がおかしい
좀 컨디션이 안 좋아
Feeling out of sorts
感觉不太对劲
Me siento un poco raro
なんだか調子が悪い
몸이 좀 찝찝해
A bit out of sorts
有点不太对劲
Un poco raro
ちょっと調子がおかしい
몸이 좀 찝찝해

Common Mistakes

Non-specific—covers physical and emotional unwellness

Origin & History

From printing terminology where 'sorts' were individual letters. Being 'out of sorts' meant missing letters and unable to complete work. Applied to people feeling incomplete or not functioning properly.

Etymology: Printing: out of letter types (sorts)

First recorded: 17th century

Cultural Context

Era: 17th century onwards

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal

Pop culture: Common expression

Regional notes: Universal English.

Variations

Out of sortsA bit out of sorts