on the outside

phrase

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

The metropolis appears to be on the outside looking in, with Las Vegas and Seattle considered distant frontrunners to land the 31st and 32nd teams. — Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 7 Nov. 2026

Ohio State was ranked 12th, but would be on the outside looking in because Boise State, ranked 25th, would get the Group of Six automatic bid. — Eddie Pells, Chicago Tribune, 4 Nov. 2026

Mizell is an All-Big 12 caliber receiver and will test Glover, Jackson and Parks on the outside. — Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 Nov. 2026

Heading into Tuesday, Democrats are watching seats in Indiana, Kentucky, Virginia, and Florida that have been on the outside of the House battlefield. — Nicholas Wu, semafor.com, 3 Nov. 2026

Rhymes for on the outside

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