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out of sync
/aʊt əv sɪŋk/
not in agreement or harmony
The dancers were out of sync during the performance.
The dancers' movements did not match or align with each other.
informal
not in agreement or harmony; not matching or aligned
The two teams were out of sync with their strategies.
The teams' plans did not align or work together effectively.
Her watch was out of sync with the clock in the room.
Her watch showed a different time than the room's clock.
Commonly used to describe mismatches in timing, coordination, or agreement.
Collocations
completely out of synctotally not in agreement or harmonyout of sync withnot matching or aligned with something else
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Common Contexts
Use 'out of sync' to describe mismatches in timing (e.g., clocks), coordination (e.g., teamwork), or agreement (e.g., opinions).
Gold Rule
Avoid Literal Interpretation
Do not confuse 'out of sync' with literal synchronization issues (e.g., clocks). It can also describe social or emotional mismatches.
Word Origin
The phrase combines 'out of' (indicating lack of) and 'sync' (short for 'synchronization'), which entered English in the mid-20th century from Greek 'synchronos' (simultaneous). 'Sync' as a noun/verb became popular in technical and colloquial contexts.
Usage Notes
Primarily used in informal contexts to describe mismatches in timing, coordination, or agreement. Often used in technical, musical, or social contexts.
Word Breakdown
out of
lacking or not in a state of
prepositional phrasesync
synchronization or harmony
nounEnglish Dictionary