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
In rejecting that argument, Chief Judge Colm F. Connolly found that at least some of the characterizations in the show could cross the line into defamation.
—
Gene Maddaus, Variety, 27 Mar. 2024
The justices are reviewing a lower-court ruling that sharply limited such interactions, and must clarify when government attempts to combat misinformation cross the line from permissible persuasion to unconstitutional coercion.
—Cat Zakrzewski, Washington Post, 18 Mar. 2024
Jaret Anderson-Dolan’s backhand went off Quick’s left shoulder and down his back, but didn’t cross the line.
—Joe Reedy, USA TODAY, 21 Jan. 2024
More:Did special counsel cross the line in bashing Biden's memory?
—David Jackson, USA TODAY, 10 Feb. 2024
Should a president have total immunity, even for things that cross the line?
—Nbc Universal, NBC News, 21 Jan. 2024
However, such views can cross the line into antisemitism.
—Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 21 Feb. 2024
This must include guardrails to ensure founders don’t cross the line between high confidence and self-belief, which are key to building true industry leaders, and exaggeration–or even fraud.
—Raphaelle D’ornano, Fortune, 7 Feb. 2024
Defending/Promoting Democracy The Sino–Russian partnership and hostility to the liberal international order have led Biden to cross the line of great-power politics and defend democratic values directly.
—Christian Schneider, National Review, 21 Dec. 2023
Gene Maddaus, Variety, 27 Mar. 2024
The justices are reviewing a lower-court ruling that sharply limited such interactions, and must clarify when government attempts to combat misinformation cross the line from permissible persuasion to unconstitutional coercion.
—Cat Zakrzewski, Washington Post, 18 Mar. 2024
Jaret Anderson-Dolan’s backhand went off Quick’s left shoulder and down his back, but didn’t cross the line.
—Joe Reedy, USA TODAY, 21 Jan. 2024
More:Did special counsel cross the line in bashing Biden's memory?
—David Jackson, USA TODAY, 10 Feb. 2024
Should a president have total immunity, even for things that cross the line?
—Nbc Universal, NBC News, 21 Jan. 2024
However, such views can cross the line into antisemitism.
—Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 21 Feb. 2024
This must include guardrails to ensure founders don’t cross the line between high confidence and self-belief, which are key to building true industry leaders, and exaggeration–or even fraud.
—Raphaelle D’ornano, Fortune, 7 Feb. 2024
Defending/Promoting Democracy The Sino–Russian partnership and hostility to the liberal international order have led Biden to cross the line of great-power politics and defend democratic values directly.
—Christian Schneider, National Review, 21 Dec. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'cross the line.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near 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 25 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share