Out of order means not working, usually about a lift, a machine, a toilet or a cash machine, and it's often written on a sign. Informal British English has a second meaning: about someone's behaviour, it means unacceptable, going too far.
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the lift/machine/toilet + is out of order; be (completely) out of order (UK, about behaviour)
- The lift in our building is out of order again, so I'm taking the stairs.
- The toilets on the train were out of order for the whole journey.
- Shouting at the new intern in front of everyone was completely out of order.
What changed
First versionSorry, the coffee machine on our floor is out of work today.
RevisionSorry, the coffee machine on our floor is out of order today.
Because the machine isn't working, out of work can seem logical. But out of work is about a person and means unemployed. For broken equipment, say out of order or simply isn't working.
Broken means damaged and fits almost any object: a broken cup, a broken phone screen. Out of order is mainly used about machines and facilities that people share, which aren't working for the moment: The cash machine is out of order. You can't say the cup is out of order.
Your turn
We couldn't buy tickets at the station because both machines were ___.
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out of order — The ticket machines at the station weren't working, so out of order. Out of work means unemployed and is used only about people.
Write about a time when a machine let you down at the worst moment. Say what wasn't working and how you solved the problem.
The printer in the library was out of order an hour before my deadline, so I emailed my essay to my tutor instead.
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