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[Mark Lechter]

My friend and I have a question regarding the proper usage of
"out-of-pocket."  I say it relates to either "requiring an outlay of
cash" or "having little or no money."

My partner uses the term with reference to not being available by phone
or otherwise.  He will tell people that he could not contact them or
that they could not contact him because he was "out-of-pocket" for a
while (i,e - he was in California and incommunicado).  He says it is
West Coast slang (he is from the West and I am from the East), but I
just think that it' is the wrong usage.

Can anybody help us settle this matter?

Mark Lechter
NYC