Is there a way to unambiguously say “out(side) of time”?





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"Out of time" can mean a variety of things, but IMO the most common one and the one that will be understood if there's no context is "with no time left". unambiguously



In can also be used in music but context is often enough to tell.



But it the case of a time traveler, out of time can be used both for the meaning I mentioned and for when he's "outside of time" (hors du temps in French). I'm using outside just to be understood, but I'm pretty sure out of time is the only correct form.



Is using outside of time incorrect? Is there another way to express that idea that's not (or less) ambiguous?





That "problem" occurs for example in the lyrics of True Survivor by David Hasselhoff:




Out of time, running in and out of time




I believe the first one means no more time/running out of time, while the second one has the other meaning. It's hard to tell, am I correct?










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  • 1





    I wouldn't say outside of time is incorrect but instinctively I want to say outside the dimension of time or outside (of) time itself. I think Marty McFly had the license plate OUTTATIME, so I guess Doc Brown thought out of time was OK.

    – Minty
    Mar 27 at 11:08


















0















"Out of time" can mean a variety of things, but IMO the most common one and the one that will be understood if there's no context is "with no time left". unambiguously



In can also be used in music but context is often enough to tell.



But it the case of a time traveler, out of time can be used both for the meaning I mentioned and for when he's "outside of time" (hors du temps in French). I'm using outside just to be understood, but I'm pretty sure out of time is the only correct form.



Is using outside of time incorrect? Is there another way to express that idea that's not (or less) ambiguous?





That "problem" occurs for example in the lyrics of True Survivor by David Hasselhoff:




Out of time, running in and out of time




I believe the first one means no more time/running out of time, while the second one has the other meaning. It's hard to tell, am I correct?










share|improve this question


















  • 1





    I wouldn't say outside of time is incorrect but instinctively I want to say outside the dimension of time or outside (of) time itself. I think Marty McFly had the license plate OUTTATIME, so I guess Doc Brown thought out of time was OK.

    – Minty
    Mar 27 at 11:08














0












0








0








"Out of time" can mean a variety of things, but IMO the most common one and the one that will be understood if there's no context is "with no time left". unambiguously



In can also be used in music but context is often enough to tell.



But it the case of a time traveler, out of time can be used both for the meaning I mentioned and for when he's "outside of time" (hors du temps in French). I'm using outside just to be understood, but I'm pretty sure out of time is the only correct form.



Is using outside of time incorrect? Is there another way to express that idea that's not (or less) ambiguous?





That "problem" occurs for example in the lyrics of True Survivor by David Hasselhoff:




Out of time, running in and out of time




I believe the first one means no more time/running out of time, while the second one has the other meaning. It's hard to tell, am I correct?










share|improve this question














"Out of time" can mean a variety of things, but IMO the most common one and the one that will be understood if there's no context is "with no time left". unambiguously



In can also be used in music but context is often enough to tell.



But it the case of a time traveler, out of time can be used both for the meaning I mentioned and for when he's "outside of time" (hors du temps in French). I'm using outside just to be understood, but I'm pretty sure out of time is the only correct form.



Is using outside of time incorrect? Is there another way to express that idea that's not (or less) ambiguous?





That "problem" occurs for example in the lyrics of True Survivor by David Hasselhoff:




Out of time, running in and out of time




I believe the first one means no more time/running out of time, while the second one has the other meaning. It's hard to tell, am I correct?







phrases expressions ambiguity






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asked Mar 27 at 10:51









Teleporting GoatTeleporting Goat

20527




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  • 1





    I wouldn't say outside of time is incorrect but instinctively I want to say outside the dimension of time or outside (of) time itself. I think Marty McFly had the license plate OUTTATIME, so I guess Doc Brown thought out of time was OK.

    – Minty
    Mar 27 at 11:08














  • 1





    I wouldn't say outside of time is incorrect but instinctively I want to say outside the dimension of time or outside (of) time itself. I think Marty McFly had the license plate OUTTATIME, so I guess Doc Brown thought out of time was OK.

    – Minty
    Mar 27 at 11:08








1




1





I wouldn't say outside of time is incorrect but instinctively I want to say outside the dimension of time or outside (of) time itself. I think Marty McFly had the license plate OUTTATIME, so I guess Doc Brown thought out of time was OK.

– Minty
Mar 27 at 11:08





I wouldn't say outside of time is incorrect but instinctively I want to say outside the dimension of time or outside (of) time itself. I think Marty McFly had the license plate OUTTATIME, so I guess Doc Brown thought out of time was OK.

– Minty
Mar 27 at 11:08










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In the case of your time traveller, and to avoid ambiguity, I would use the word atemporal:




: independent of or unaffected by time : TIMELESS







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    In the case of your time traveller, and to avoid ambiguity, I would use the word atemporal:




    : independent of or unaffected by time : TIMELESS







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      In the case of your time traveller, and to avoid ambiguity, I would use the word atemporal:




      : independent of or unaffected by time : TIMELESS







      share|improve this answer


























        2












        2








        2







        In the case of your time traveller, and to avoid ambiguity, I would use the word atemporal:




        : independent of or unaffected by time : TIMELESS







        share|improve this answer













        In the case of your time traveller, and to avoid ambiguity, I would use the word atemporal:




        : independent of or unaffected by time : TIMELESS








        share|improve this answer












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        answered Mar 27 at 17:00









        Jason BassfordJason Bassford

        19.6k32346




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