out of the ordinary

• Audio (General Australian):

  (file)

out of the ordinary

1. (idiomatic, chiefly in the negative) Unusual or exceptional, especially for the better.

   The food was expensive, and nothing out of the ordinary.

   • 1951 November, R. K. Kirkland, “The Wimbledon and West Croydon Line of the Southern Region”, in Railway Magazine, page 726:

     The unusual rolling stock, the fare collection methods, and the exchange of train staffs make it quite clear that here is something out of the ordinary run of suburban electric lines.

   • 1983, Talking Heads (lyrics and music), “Burning Down the House”, in Speaking in Tongues:

     My house / Is out of the ordinary / That's right / Don't wanna hurt nobody

• nothing to write home about