1
general::
Unemployed; also, having no work to do. For example, He lost his job a year ago and has been out of work ever since, or They don't give her enough assignments? she's always out of work. Shakespeare used this expression in Henry V (1:2): "All out of work and cold for action."
American Heritage Idioms
2
general::
Phrase(s): out of work
unemployed; having lost one’s job. • Todd was out of work for almost a year. • Too many people were out of work, and the economy got into trouble.
McGrawhill's American Idioms And Phrasal Verbs