He'll <be out for> at least two weeks.

[Tenacious Learner]

Hi teachers,
Script from a conversation at a restaurant.
Waiter: Oh, I'm so sorry, but we aren't serving pies today.
Man: Huh? I thought this was Heavenly Pies Restaurant.
Waiter: Well, it usually is, but, Dave, our baker, slipped in the kitchen on a banana two days ago, and hurt his leg. He'll be out for at least two weeks.

My question:
What does "be out for" mean?
Does it mean that the baker won't work for at least two weeks? Do you always use "be out for" when someone who works has an illness or has hurt or been hurt at working hours?

Thanks in advance.

 

[MilkyBarKid]

No. That's unusual. I would have expected her to say, he'll be off for at least two weeks.

 

[Tenacious Learner]

No. That's unusual. I would have expected her to say, he'll be off for at least two weeks.

Thanks for your help, MilkyBarKid. Being unusual doesn't mean that is wrong to say it like that, does it?

TL

 

[DonnyB]

Thanks for your help, MilkyBarKid. Being unusual doesn't mean that is wrong to say it like that, does it?

That doesn't really work for me I'm afraid. I think you'd have to say it as "He'll be out of action for at least two weeks"

 

[sound shift]

I often see "He'll be out for two weeks" and similar in reports on professional sport ("out of action" is implied), but it does sound odd in an employment context. In your scenario, I too would use "off".

 

[Tenacious Learner]

That doesn't really work for me I'm afraid. I think you'd have to say it as "He'll be out of action for at least two weeks"

Thanks, Donny. Another one that I didn't know.

TL

 

[Tenacious Learner]

I often see "He'll be out for two weeks" and similar in reports on professional sport ("out of action" is implied), but it does sound odd in an employment context. In your scenario, I too would use "off".

Got it, sound shift. Thanks for your help too.

TL

 

[Dale Texas]

In AE, "to be out for xtime" is the standard expression to indicate "absent from the workplace."

 

[kentix]

I agree with Dale. It would be totally normal in a U.S. context to say "He'll be out for two weeks", meaning he won't be coming to work for two weeks because of an accident like that. If he was just on a scheduled vacation, I would say "He's off for the next two weeks" or "He has a couple of weeks off."

 

[Tenacious Learner]

In AE, "to be out for xtime" is the standard expression to indicate "absent from the workplace."

I agree with Dale. It would be totally normal in a U.S. context to say "He'll be out for two weeks", meaning he won't be coming to work for two weeks because of an accident like that. If he was just on a scheduled vacation, I would say "He's off for the next two weeks" or "He has a couple of weeks off."

Thank you for you opinions. Now I have the British and American version of the same meaning.

TL