cross the line
idiom
: to go beyond what is proper or acceptable
Her criticism crossed the line from helpful to just plain hurtful.
The magazine crossed the line when they printed the nude photos.
Examples of cross the line in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
On that note, when does a federal law enforcement response cross the line and violate the 10th Amendment?
—
Andrea Katz, The Conversation, 26 Jan. 2026
Some of Rivers’s throws did not cross the line of scrimmage, and those that did were hurled ducks.
—Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 21 Dec. 2025
Hannah Babalola, 37, of Chicago, was the first female wheelchair winner to cross the line with a time of 2:15:21.
—Alexandra Simon, CBS News, 23 Nov. 2025
His attorney argues charges against the homeowner are what truly cross the line.
—Darcie Moran, Freep.com, 7 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cross the line
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Andrea Katz, The Conversation, 26 Jan. 2026
Some of Rivers’s throws did not cross the line of scrimmage, and those that did were hurled ducks.
—Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 21 Dec. 2025
Hannah Babalola, 37, of Chicago, was the first female wheelchair winner to cross the line with a time of 2:15:21.
—Alexandra Simon, CBS News, 23 Nov. 2025
His attorney argues charges against the homeowner are what truly cross the line.
—Darcie Moran, Freep.com, 7 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cross the line
Cite this Entry
“Cross the line.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cross%20the%20line. Accessed 30 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
