to cross the line
89
4.5
- phrasal verb
- Informal
:
pasarse de la raya
- I do think the kids have a tough time knowing when they cross the line.
You can protest us, but if you cross the line, we'll seek prosecution.
- You can protest us, but if you cross the line, we'll seek prosecution.
- So again, just do not cross the line of begging.
- It just can't cross the line of being harassment or being hate.
- We'll kill them, you know, if they dare to cross the line.
- Some like the degree viciousness can cross the line towards like atrocities towards genocide, right.
- Your star performer is is known to flirt the line, if not cross the line with respect to inappropriate workplace behavior.
- So when they cross the line into criminality, that's when the authorities become involved.
- And then the flip side of that was how can we beat the cheaters without crossing the line?
- He almost crossed the line with Roosevelt.
- This dog has crossed the line so many times.
- But yes, I, when I crossed the line, it was just, yeah, revival moment.
- And that's when I felt like I had crossed the line.
- OK, so now once you engage in a comment that's crossed the line, maybe that's betrayal the line.
- So it's not just crooks, bad people that choose to cross the line.
- Which it's like, yo, it's like that's crossing the line, dude.
Examples
-
In his attempt to satisfy both, he has inevitably had to cross the line at various points.
Academic text (2000) -
You crossed the line, and that comes with a price.
-
You know, I might even cross the line a bit.
-
You have to cross the line.
-
Did you cross the line with this girl?
-
You have just crossed the line.
-
You can protest us, but if you cross the line, we'll seek prosecution.
-
But when does a short temper or sharp tongue cross the line into something more serious?
Academic text (1995) -
So when they cross the line into criminality, that's when the authorities become involved.
-
If you insult someone, you might cross the line and hurt their feelings.
Synonyms
201
4.2
Say or do something that is not acceptable and may hurt people
70
5.9
To go beyond a limit or rule without permission
15
6.2
To go beyond what you are allowed to do
12
7.8
To do something that breaks a law, rule, or your idea of right and wrong
11
5.9
To go beyond a limit or rule
10
5.0
Go beyond what people consider acceptable
3
6.2
To behave in a way people think is not acceptable
1
6.3
To go past a limit people set and cause serious problems
Antonyms
How Unacceptable
4
3.7
- Informal
89
4.5
11
5.9
12
4.9
524
2.8
Surface Forms
Morphology
The sense 'to behave beyond an acceptable limit' is directly derivable from 'cross' (to go from one side to another) + 'line' (a boundary or limit): the spatial metaphor of crossing a boundary maps clearly onto exceeding behavioral limits. This compositional pattern is common across languages and follows a standard metaphor, so a B1 learner who knows the constituent words will likely infer the meaning.
Etymology
Cross the line comes from the simple image of someone stepping over a marked line that shows a limit, and to cross it is to go past what is allowed. So it means doing something 'not acceptable' or going 'past the limit'.