out the window
No longer valid
Out the window describes something abandoned, discarded, or suddenly made irrelevant.
Plans go out the window when circumstances change; caution goes out the window when emotions run high.
The phrase evokes throwing something away—tossing it through an open window to be rid of it: Once the budget was cut, our timeline went out the window.
All my good intentions went right out the window.
- discardedGotten rid of
- thrown awayDisposed of as refuse
- droppedLet fall downward
- dismissedReleased from duty
- ejectedForcibly removed
gone · defenestration · flying glass · view · scrapped · negated · bypassed · thrown · obsolete · best laid plans · disruption · kaput · tossed · so much for · down the drain · forgotten · hurled · irrelevant
out the windowsalvaged
Rescued from destruction
preserved · saved · kept · retained · safeguarded
out the windowon the table
Up for discussion
in play · still standing · in effect · in force · on track
out the windowin effect
Functionally true, practically speaking
in force · still standing · on the table · in play · upheld
outside, window, outing, output, outskirts, outlandish, outgrow, outed, windowpane