out of action
English
Prepositional phrase
- Unable to work or function, often due to a particular event.
- 1960 January, “Talking of Trains: The Seven Bridge disaster”, in Trains Illustrated, page 5:
- Press reports of the length of time the bridge is likely to be out of action vary greatly, but Mr. Farr gathers that a temporary structure may be ready in six months; complete reconstruction, however, will take at least two years. [It was never rebuilt or replaced, and demolished instead.]
- 2020 August 26, Andrew Mourant, “Reinforced against future flooding”, in Rail, page 61:
- In 2004, after heavy rain fell on sodden ground, floods put the line out of action from February until May.
See also
References
- “out of action”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–2022.
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