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Nose Out of Joint

What Does "Nose Out of Joint" Mean?

homeidiomsNose Out of Joint
"Nose out of joint" is an English idiom. It is an expression used to describe someone who is upset, offended, or jealous due to a perceived slight or loss of status.

Examples in Sentences

Here are three examples of the idiom "nose out of joint" used in a sentence:
  • His competitive nature made him easily upset, and losing the race left his nose out of joint.
  • She felt her nose was out of joint when her coworker received praise for her idea.
  • The promotion of his colleague left his nose out of joint as he felt he deserved it.
meaning for nose out of joint

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 "Nose Out of Joint" 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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