Out on the Town (Origin)

by Craig Shrives

What Is the Origin of the Saying "Out on the Town"?

The term "out on the town" means enjoying yourself in bars, restaurants, and clubs. The connotation is that you are with friends during the evening.

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Out on the Town (Origin)

Examples of Use:

  • We're out on the town tonight. Are you coming?
  • I am feeling a bit rough this morning. We went out on the town last night.
  • The whole team went out on the town to celebrate our win.
  • I've not seen Janice for years. I fully expect we will be out on the town all of this week.
As the words in this saying are used in their literal sense, "out on the town" cannot be considered an example of figurative language and, therefore, should not be classified an idiom. Nevertheless, its meaning is not immediately apparent from the words because there is no reference to the drinking, eating, and dancing that a night "out on the town" is likely to involve.

"Out on the town" it is a popular term, which probably owes its popularity to a 1944 stage show called "Out On The Town" and the 1949 film "Out On The Town."

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See Also

What are idioms? What is figurative language? A list of common grammar errors A list of easily confused words A list of sayings and proverbs