out of line

The phrase "out of line" is often used to describe actions or behaviors that deviate from what is considered appropriate or acceptable.

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Definition

B2Social Interaction

(informal)Behaving in a way that is inappropriate or disrespectful.

Example

His comment was completely out of line and offended many people.
She was out of line for interrupting the meeting like that.

B2General Usage

(common)Not conforming to expected standards or rules.

Example

The report was out of line with the company's guidelines.
His actions were out of line with the team's strategy.

B1Physical Arrangement

(technical)Not arranged in a straight line or orderly sequence.

Example

The books on the shelf were out of line and needed to be straightened.
The soldiers were out of line during the drill.

Similar

Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "out of line":

out of step out of whack on the line out of place cross the line out of order out of joint out of sync crossing the line in line line out out of bounds out of square out of character off the rails out of control out of sorts out of frame out of hand out of touch out of tune off base off target out of the way off the track out of one's time off the mark toe the line out of phase off keel out to lunch out of off side way off off balance out of the common out of gauge out of someone's way fall in line out of one's box low line line up down line out of the picture give someone line out of it in the wrong out of question out of time color outside the lines out of reach in the way left out back line enemy line below the line behind the curve off one's box top line not out line of fire in someone's way out of one's league beyond the pale off the reservation loop line straight out foul line over the top far out out of date wide of the mark