Out of joint

Pro Tip 1/3

Emotional Emphasis

Use to express that something is significantly disrupted, often with a sense of dismay or frustration.

Since she left, my routine is all out of joint.

Pro Tip 2/3

Figurative Use

Understand it's not always literal—it can describe feelings about life’s disruptions.

After the earthquake, the whole community felt out of joint.

Pro Tip 3/3

Metaphorical Disarray

It's a metaphor that likens life's unpredictability to misaligned objects or disturbed settings.

With all the canceled flights, the travelers’ plans were out of joint.