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
Hannah Babalola, 37, of Chicago, was the first female wheelchair winner to cross the line with a time of 2:15:21.
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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
When chatbots cross the line Some AI systems meant to help can actually cause harm.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 19 Oct. 2025
Customers who cross the line with verbal abuse and threats fall under the category of Customers Who Aren’t Worth Doing Business With.
—Shep Hyken, Forbes.com, 24 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cross the line
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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
When chatbots cross the line Some AI systems meant to help can actually cause harm.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 19 Oct. 2025
Customers who cross the line with verbal abuse and threats fall under the category of Customers Who Aren’t Worth Doing Business With.
—Shep Hyken, Forbes.com, 24 Aug. 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 21 Dec. 2025.
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