Date: Fri, 10 May 1996 05:41:23 -0400

From: "M. Lynne Murphy" 104LYN[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]MUSE.ARTS.WITS.AC.ZA

Subject: Re: out-of-pocket



The only use of out-of-pocket in my active vocabulary is to refer to

expenses incurred in the course of doing the boss's job for which an

employee may or may not receive reimbursement. In other words, a gift or



With this meaning, I find that it's usually in an attributive slot,

preceding a noun like "expenses." In my experience, "out of pocket"

as a predicate adjective nearly always refers to a person and means

something like "not around at the moment."

--Natalie (maynor[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]ra.msstate.edu)



the "expenses" meaning is the only one i have, but it's not just pre-

nominal. it can be used adverbially, as in "we paid for the

refreshments out-of-pocket."



lynne



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