Anonymous  +  418100 Thu, 13 Sep 07 06:42 PM Hi, "James tells her that now that the worst is out there, they can finally be open about being together." What does 'now that the worst is out there' mean here, especially  the phrase 'out there'? Could someone please explain it to me? Thanks Anonymous

	Grammar Geek  +  418105 Thu, 13 Sep 07 06:49 PM It sounds to me that some bad news (or perhaps gossip) about Jame and "her" is now common knowledge. Perhaps they had been afraid people would find out about their relationship, and now that the news is "out there" in the public domain of knowledge, they have nothing to fear anymore. Grammar Geek Joined on Tue, Jan 10 2006 Veteran Member 19,669 Barbara, who answers in American English. My housekeeping skills attest to the truth of the second law of thermodynamics: Left to themselves, things get more and more random!