on the outside

idiom

1

: on the outer side, edge, or surface of something

The number 22 car tried to pass the leader on the outside (of the track).

2

baseball : on the side of home plate farthest from the batter

The next pitch was a fastball on the outside.

3

—used to describe someone's appearance

I might seem calm on the outside, but I'm actually really nervous.

4

: not in prison

He looked forward to life on the outside again.

Examples of on the outside in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

But a 6-11 finish in the 2025 season meant the Chiefs were on the outside looking in at the playoffs for the first time since 2014. —Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 27 Jan. 2026

To have one of Thomas’ associates on the outside kill the two. —Sydney Pereira, Miami Herald, 27 Jan. 2026

Punk countered a sliding knee on the outside and hit a GTS on Styles. —Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 26 Jan. 2026

By repeatedly dropping the cookies while baking, the dough spreads and ripples, creating a cookie with far more texture on the outside, but still a soft, tender center. —Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 25 Jan. 2026

Rhymes for on the outside

• acetamide
• acetonide
• acidified
• antimonide
• beatified
• benzaldehyde
• borohydride
• chalcogenide
• commodified
• decalcified
• declassified
• disaccharide