I learned the phrase "out of pocket" in terms of being unavailable about 20 years ago when I began working for the US Air Force. I have always assumed it to be a military term, referring to being out of the pocket of resistance or some such, thus meaning unavailable for duty. And that's the exact translation for the phrase as I understood it.

Another phrase I learned at the same time was window of opportunity. I always wanted to slam that window shut on the perpetrator's knuckles.


TEd