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Glite Dictionary
to color outside the lines

to color outside the lines

1 6.7
To think or act in a new and creative way without following usual rules
  • idiom
  • Informal
translation icon : pensar fuera de la caja
  • That's curious, it's inquisitive, that might color outside the lines, and it's the first voice that is mostly in control.

This is all about coloring outside the lines and putting your own spin on a classic.

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Examples

  • I don't want to customize my tools or color outside the lines.

    Blog text (25)

  • This is all about coloring outside the lines and putting your own spin on a classic.

    Funny Or Die

  • With the ability to customize and color outside the lines, it may well be that the open package can provide better value.

    Blog text (25)

  • Cww wrote: > With the ability to customize and color outside the lines, it may well be that the open package can provide better value <

    Blog text (25)

  • They won't get as much pushback if they color outside the lines, or if they do get pushback, they won't be as intimidated by it.

    Blog text (14)

  • The artist encouraged her students to color outside the lines and embrace their creativity.

  • In his latest book, the author decided to color outside the lines by breaking traditional storytelling norms.

  • To find new solutions, the team was instructed to color outside the lines and think unconventionally.

Synonyms

to go against the grain
vsto color outside the lines
  • Informal
8 7.4

To do something very different from what most people expect or usually do

is about choosing creative methods rather than simply opposing common practice
pushing boundaries
vsto color outside the lines
  • Informal
3 6.0

Challenging normal limits or rules to try new ideas

is about being unconventional without necessarily confronting established limits
to step out of your box
vsto color outside the lines
  • Informal
7.3

Think in a new way instead of your usual way

also covers taking unconventional actions rather than only new thinking

Antonyms

to conform
96 3.2

Think and act like other people or follow rules

to follow the rule
55 2.8

Do what a rule says

How Creative

to color outside the lines
  • Informal
1 6.7

Surface Forms

color outside the lines infinitive
colored outside the lines past
colored outside the lines past participle
coloring outside the lines present participle
colors outside the lines third person singular

Morphology

color + outside + the + line

The literal image of 'color[ing] outside the lines' — knowing 'color', 'outside' and 'lines' — readily suggests acting beyond prescribed boundaries, so a B1 learner can infer a meaning related to nonconformity. However, the positive nuance of creativity or constructive unconventionality is a metaphorical extension that may not be fully predictable without exposure (though many languages have similar metaphors), so the expression is only partially transparent.

Etymology

The idiom color outside the lines comes from a child's coloring book: when you color past the drawn lines, you ignore the picture's rules and make something different. So the phrase means 'to act or think in a creative or unconventional way'.