idiom · informal

out of sorts

UK/aʊt əv sɔːts/US/aʊt əv sɔrts/out·of·SORTS

speakingtask2

slightly unwell or in a bad mood

Examples

I felt a bit out of sorts after the late-night study session, so I skipped the morning class.

She sounded out of sorts on the phone, so I didn't press her about the project.

If you're out of sorts, it's better to rest than to force yourself to perform.

Band 8 sentence

I was a little out of sorts all week after the exams, so I postponed meeting my tutor until I felt more focused.

Collocations

  • feel out of sorts
  • a bit out of sorts

Word family

feel out of sorts verb phrasebe out of sorts adjective phrase

Common mistakes

I'm out of sortI'm out of sorts

I'm out of weatherI'm out of sorts / I'm under the weather

Say it for a higher band

5sick6unwell7+out of sorts

Synonyms

under the weather

off-colour

Easily confused

under the weather

I'm feeling a bit under the weather today, so I won't join you for the run.

Related words

Learn this word with the rest of its set, and get reminded at the right time.

In Health

Learn it with its set