cross the line
idiom
: 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
To be sure, there’s no need to cross the line and be complicit in any antisocial, unethical, or destructive behaviors.
—
Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2024
Many churches cross the line every year, by either hosting candidates or making endorsements from the pulpit, while rarely drawing sanctions from the IRS.
—Mike Hixenbaugh, NBC News, 31 Oct. 2024
But things cross the line when fake facts get involved.
—Kurt Knutsson, Cyberguy Report, Fox News, 23 Oct. 2024
Still, watching an artist cross the line from worship songs to what can be considered political propaganda is no less alarming.
—Marissa R. Moss, Rolling Stone, 18 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for cross the line 
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Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2024
Many churches cross the line every year, by either hosting candidates or making endorsements from the pulpit, while rarely drawing sanctions from the IRS.
—Mike Hixenbaugh, NBC News, 31 Oct. 2024
But things cross the line when fake facts get involved.
—Kurt Knutsson, Cyberguy Report, Fox News, 23 Oct. 2024
Still, watching an artist cross the line from worship songs to what can be considered political propaganda is no less alarming.
—Marissa R. Moss, Rolling Stone, 18 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for cross the line
Dictionary Entries Near cross the line
Cite this Entry
“Cross the line.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cross%20the%20line. Accessed 30 Dec. 2024.
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