Out of pocket

To be out of pocket means to have lost or wasted money in some enterprise or other and dates from the late 1600s. Out-of-pocket expenses refer to expenses incurred by an individual whilst on business that an employer will usually reimburse later. This usage dates from the late 19th century. In America, out of pocket can also mean unavailable or unreachable and this modern usage dates from the 1970s. This derives from American Football where key players like quarterbacks are often positioned ‘out of pocket’, protected by blockers, and therefore ‘unavailable’ to the opposition.