out of the ordinary

1. Unusual, uncommon, exceptional, as in The venison they served was certainly out of the ordinary. This expression sometimes, but not always, indicates that something is better than the usual. However, the negative version, nothing out of the ordinary, usually indicates that something is not special or outstanding, as in It was an interesting lecture, but nothing out of the ordinary.

Example Sentences

But before the work-out started, something out of the ordinary occurred.

From BBC

The fire started off very small, Ben said, which he described as being "nothing out of the ordinary for this time of the year", but it quickly escalated.

From BBC

Out of the ordinary: In the center of town, the Santa Ynez Valley Historical Museum and Parks-Janeway Carriage House promises “the largest horse-drawn vehicle collection west of the Mississippi” including a stagecoach, farm wagon and fire engine in addition to examples of “regional saddlery, period apparel, and vintage horse gear.”

From Los Angeles Times

“You notice small things that are out of the ordinary.”

From Slate

Gamboa described González as someone out of the ordinary.

From Los Angeles Times