Out to lunch
English Idiom
Meaning: Someone who is not paying attention or is completely unaware of what is happening around them. They might seem distracted, confused, or just not in touch with reality at the moment.
Origin: The idiom 'Out to lunch' emerged in the mid-20th century in American English. Originally, it referred to someone who was literally away from their desk or workplace for a lunch break. Over time, it evolved to describe someone who is mentally absent or not fully aware of their surroundings.
Examples
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During the meeting, Sarah was completely out to lunch, missing all the crucial points discussed.
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When I asked him about the new project, he looked at me like he was out to lunch.
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Despite the chaos in the office, Mark seemed out to lunch, staring blankly at his screen.
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After a long night of studying, Jane was out to lunch during her morning classes.
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Whenever the conversation turns to politics, Tom appears out to lunch, uninterested and disengaged.
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She’s been out to lunch all day, likely thinking about her upcoming vacation.
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It's hard to get a straight answer from him; he’s always out to lunch.
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Even with the alarm blaring, he remained out to lunch, lost in his thoughts.
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I tried explaining the new system to her, but she seemed completely out to lunch.
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He walked into the wrong office, clearly out to lunch and not paying attention.