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

Josephson likes to turn down the volume on the outside world, cocooning her readers in the white noise of affirmation. —Katy Waldman, New Yorker, 12 Jan. 2026

Part of the reason Smith-Njigba got the slot receiver tag was his lack of off-the-charts measurables relative to players who traditionally dominate on the outside. —Michael-Shawn Dugar, New York Times, 10 Jan. 2026

The fabric is smooth on the outside and fuzzy on the inside, provides a comfortable stretch, and offers more coverage, thanks to the longer hem. —Izzy Baskette, PEOPLE, 9 Jan. 2026

As Milligan points out in a prototype demo, the tracks feature drainage holes on the outside to keep the water moving outward instead of pooling and potentially leaking inside. —New Atlas, 9 Jan. 2026

Rhymes for on the outside

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