idiom
Cross a line
kros uh LYN
/krɒs ə laɪn/Listen
Hear it in a clear American voice. Slow it down to catch each syllable.
Syllable breakdown
crossaline
Dictionary meaning
To go beyond an acceptable ethical, moral, or professional boundary, doing something that is considered wrong, offensive, or unacceptable.
Examples
- The researcher crossed a line when he published results without participant consent.
- His joke was funny until it crossed a line that made several colleagues uncomfortable.
Synonyms: go too far, overstep the mark
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