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Over the Line

What Does "Over the Line" Mean?

homeidiomsOver the Line
"Over the line" is an English idiom. It means "to behave inappropriately or cross a moral or ethical boundary; to exceed acceptable limits."

Examples in Sentences

Here are three examples of the idiom "over the line" used in a sentence:
  • His comments during the meeting were offensive and crossed over the line of acceptable workplace behavior.
  • She felt that the movie's graphic content went over the line and should have had a warning.
  • He was warned that any cheating on the exam would be considered going over the line.
meaning for over the line

What Is an Idiom?

An idiom is a commonly used expression whose meaning does not relate to the literal meaning of its words. In other words, if you were to translate "Over the Line" word for word, there is no guarantee the translation would help you to understand the meaning.

An idiom often includes a cultural or historical context that makes it difficult for non-native English speakers to understand. A phrase is classified as an idiom when a direct translation of the words does not reveal the meaning. Most idioms rely on shared knowledge or experiences known only to a specific community.

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