{"id":10241,"date":"2022-11-02T20:18:51","date_gmt":"2022-11-02T20:18:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/?p=10241"},"modified":"2022-11-02T20:18:51","modified_gmt":"2022-11-02T20:18:51","slug":"cross-the-line-meaning","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/cross-the-line-meaning\/","title":{"rendered":"Cross the Line \u2013 Meaning, Origin and Usage"},"content":{"rendered":"

Are you looking for a way to tell someone they\u2019ve gone too far, and you are angry? You could say that they\u2019ve \u201ccrossed the line<\/strong>.\u201d This post unpacks what this idiom means, where it came from, and how to use it.<\/p>\n

Meaning<\/h2>\n

The idiom \u201cto cross a line<\/strong>\u201d means someone has overstepped, broken established rules, or broken unwritten social conventions<\/u>.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou have crossed a line<\/strong>\u201d is the most common form.<\/p>\n

When you tell someone they have crossed a line, you warn them and let them know you are angry. The line-crosser has offended you or broken your trust. You will remember that and may take further action.<\/p>\n

Example Usage<\/h2>\n

Seeing an idiom in action is the best way to understand its meaning and usage. Take a look at these examples to discover how the saying \u201cto cross the line<\/strong>\u201d is usually used:<\/p>\n

    \n
  • \u201cI\u2019m a very understanding person, but I already warned you not to come home late multiple times, and now you stroll in at 2 am? You\u2019ve really crossed the line<\/strong> this time! You\u2019re grounded!\u201d<\/li>\n
  • \u201cYou really crossed the line<\/strong> when you were rude to Mr Roberts, who\u2019s been a regular customer for years. I\u2019m afraid I\u2019ll have to fire you.\u201d<\/li>\n
  • \u201cSome lines should never be crossed<\/strong>, and dating your ex\u2019s sister is definitely one of those.\u201d<\/li>\n
  • \u201cAre you sure that\u2019s a line you want to cross<\/strong>? You won\u2019t be able to undo it!\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Origin<\/h2>\n

    It is not entirely clear where the idiom \u201cto cross the line<\/strong>\u201d originated \u2014 several different theories exist.<\/p>\n

    The most commonly-accepted theory, which is also the most interesting, is related to a traditional practice among sailors.<\/p>\n

    The equator is a circle of latitude that divides the northern hemisphere from the southern hemisphere. It is represented as a straight line on world maps. Sailors who crossed this imaginary line for the first time traditionally celebrated the occasion with a ritual. This practice continues to this day.<\/p>\n

    The equator is represented by an invisible line \u2014 akin to the social conventions you may breach when you \u201ccross the line.\u201d<\/p>\n

    Other theories about the origin of this idiom include:<\/p>\n

      \n
    • Crossing the finish line while running a race<\/li>\n
    • Crossing a \u201cline in the sand\u201d \u2014 meaning a boundary someone has drawn.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      It might also be helpful to imagine lines placed in public settings that require some privacy, such as banks, pharmacies, and post offices. Step over these lines before the last customer is finished, and you\u2019ll definitely be rude.<\/p>\n

      Phrases Similar to Cross the Line<\/h2>\n

      Instead of \u201cyou have crossed the line,\u201d you can also say, \u201cyou have gone too far<\/strong>.\u201d Other related phrases include:<\/p>\n

        \n
      • This is where I draw the line.<\/strong><\/li>\n
      • Crossing the Rubicon<\/strong> \u2014 meaning passing a point of no return.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        Phrases Opposite to Cross the Line<\/h2>\n

        There are no antonyms for the idiom \u201cto cross the line.\u201d The opposite of crossing the line would be to behave in an acceptable manner.<\/p>\n

        You could describe such people as:<\/p>\n

          \n
        • Polite<\/li>\n
        • Humble<\/li>\n
        • Courteous<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

          What Is the Correct Saying?<\/h2>\n

          The correct saying is \u201cto cross a line<\/strong>,\u201d meaning to go too far or to overstep. \u201cYou have crossed the line\u201d is the most common form.<\/p>\n

          Ways People May Say Cross the Line Incorrectly<\/h2>\n

          If you associate crossing the line with finishing a race, you may assume that the idiom has a positive meaning (like \u201cyou have reached a milestone\u201d).<\/p>\n

          That would be incorrect. Crossing the line does mean crossing a boundary, but a boundary you shouldn\u2019t have crossed.<\/p>\n

          Acceptable Ways to Say Cross the Line<\/h2>\n

          Has someone done something that really annoys you? You could tell them that they have crossed the line.<\/p>\n

          Are you worried that someone is about to make a decision they\u2019ll regret? You could ask that person if they are sure they want to cross that line.<\/p>\n

          \u201cCrossing the line\u201d is a widely used and understood idiom. Most people will know what you mean when you use this phrase.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

          Are you looking for a way to tell someone they\u2019ve gone too far, and you are angry? You could say that they\u2019ve \u201ccrossed the line.\u201d This post unpacks what this idiom means, where it came from, and how to use it. Meaning The idiom \u201cto cross a line\u201d means someone has overstepped, broken established rules, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10241"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10241"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10241\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10243,"href":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10241\/revisions\/10243"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10241"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10241"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10241"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}