out of bounds
The phrase "out of bounds" is versatile, used in sports to indicate crossing a boundary and in general contexts to denote something forbidden or unacceptable.
Definition
B1Sports
(technical)When a ball or player has crossed the boundary line of the playing area.
Example
- The referee blew the whistle when the ball went out of bounds.
B2General Usage
(common)Referring to actions, behaviors, or areas that are forbidden or restricted.
Example
- Entering the construction site without permission is out of bounds.
C1Idiomatic
(idiomatic)Describing something that is beyond what is considered acceptable or appropriate.
Example
- Discussing salaries in the meeting was deemed out of bounds.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "out of bounds":
out of linenot outout of frameout of reachbox outoutside ofout ofkeep outoff sideout of questionfield outout of squareout of orderout of the moneyout of controlway outout of gaugeball outget outside ofout of one's boxoff baseoff targetkeep out ofout of the picturetag outout of placeoff the trackoutside edgestay outpitch outfoul outno ballhave outout of townbarred outout of itline outoff balanceover the fenceall outterm outout of sightout of characterball offout of jointoff the reservationout of the boxfar outout of the commonbar outout of handoff boardget out