estar por fora

You use the verb estar (to be) followed by por fora. Since estar is a temporary state, it implies you could get back 'inside' soon. You can use it about yourself or others. Just pair it with the preposition de to mention the topic. For example: Estou por fora do assunto (I'm out of the loop on the subject).

Use it when friends discuss a movie you haven't seen. Use it at work when a project changed while you were on vacation. It is great for texting when a group chat explodes with 100 messages. It shows humility and a desire to be updated. It’s the ultimate 'fill me in' signal.

Avoid using it to describe permanent lack of intelligence. It is about information, not brainpower. Don't use it in extremely formal legal documents. In those cases, use não estar ciente. Also, don't use it if you actually know what's happening. That just makes things confusing for everyone involved.

Brazilians are very social and communicative people. Being 'inside' the news is a sign of connection. This phrase likely grew from the idea of social circles. If you are por fora, you are momentarily disconnected from the tribe. It’s a very common, lighthearted way to admit a lapse in knowledge.

You might hear ficar por fora, which means 'to become' out of the loop. If you want to be more emphatic, say completamente por fora. On the flip side, the opposite is estar por dentro. That means you are the expert or the one with all the juicy details.