cross the line

phrase

: 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

Set in a broken school system pushed to the brink, Teach You A Lesson follows the Teachers’ Rights Protection Bureau, a fictional government agency created to protect victims and restore order when students, teachers, and parents cross the line. — Katie Campione, Deadline, 16 July 2026

In any business, the rise of fame and talent comes with rabid fans who may sometimes cross the line. — Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 1 July 2026

But how much is too much — and when does helping cross the line into enabling? — Jill Schlesinger, Mercury News, 29 June 2026

While not every unpleasant interaction qualifies as harassment, some actions clearly cross the line. — Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 17 Mar. 2026

Rhymes for cross the line

• alkaline
• andesine
• anodyne
• anticline
• arginine
• asinine
• benzidine
• borderline
• byzantine
• calamine
• caroline
• centerline