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Out of Character

What Does "Out of Character" Mean?

homeidiomsOut of Character
"Out of character" is an English idiom. It means "behaving or acting in a way that is inconsistent with one's usual personality or behavior."

Examples in Sentences

Here are three examples of the idiom "out of character" used in a sentence:
  • Her angry outburst was out of character; she's usually very calm and composed.
  • His decision to quit his job seemed out of character, as he had always been career-focused.
  • Seeing him volunteer at the animal shelter was out of character, but it showed a different side of him.
meaning for out of character

What Is an Idiom?

An idiom is a commonly used expression whose meaning does not relate to the literal meaning of its words. In other words, if you were to translate "Out of Character" word for word, there is no guarantee the translation would help you to understand the meaning.

An idiom often includes a cultural or historical context that makes it difficult for non-native English speakers to understand. A phrase is classified as an idiom when a direct translation of the words does not reveal the meaning. Most idioms rely on shared knowledge or experiences known only to a specific community.

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