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

Mayor Shiro Suzuki said that while some countries argue the possession of nuclear weapons helps deter potential attackers, the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki had demonstrated that humans can cross the line. — ABC News, 9 Aug. 2026

Mayor Shiro Suzuki said that while some countries argue the possession of nuclear weapons helps deter potential attackers, the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki had demonstrated that humans making the decisions can cross the line. — Mari Yamaguchi, Los Angeles Times, 9 Aug. 2026

Isack Hadjar netted sixth in the other Red Bull ahead of title contender George Russell of Mercedes, who dropped 12 positions from P6 on the opening lap to eventually cross the line in seventh. — Yara Elshebiny, Forbes.com, 26 July 2026

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

Rhymes for cross the line

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