Date:  Thu, 9 May 1996 17:41:27 -0500

From:  Natalie Maynor <maynor[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]RA.MSSTATE.EDU>

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)