Idiom
Out of the loop
If you are out of the loop, you are not informed about something that other people know about or are involved in.
How people use it
People use it at work, in families and among friends: "Sorry, I've been out of the loop; what did I miss?" Common verbs are be, feel and keep or leave someone out of the loop. The opposite is in the loop. Being out of the loop can be accidental, as after a vacation, or deliberate, when someone is shut out of decisions. The tone is informal but fine in office emails.
Also said: leave someone out of the loop.
Examples
- After two weeks of vacation, Grace felt completely out of the loop at the office.
- Why didn't anyone tell me about the surprise party? I'm always out of the loop.
- Please don't leave the volunteers out of the loop when the schedule changes.
Where it comes from
The phrase became common in American English in the 1970s and 1980s, especially in business and government. The loop probably refers to a closed circle of people who share information, perhaps borrowing the idea of a feedback loop. No single source is proven.
Check yourself
1. If you are out of the loop, what is true?
Answer: You don't know what is going on. Out of the loop means not being informed about something.
2. What is the opposite of out of the loop?
Answer: In the loop. In the loop means being informed and included.
Word game fan? See every word hiding in LOOP.