forbidden ground
Area declared restricted
Forbidden ground is territory—physical or metaphorical—where entry or discussion is prohibited or strongly discouraged.
The phrase often describes topics too sensitive, painful, or taboo to broach: His time in prison was forbidden ground at family gatherings.
It can also refer to actual places one must not enter, whether for legal, safety, or sacred reasons.
The related phrase tread on forbidden ground means to venture into such dangerous territory.
- danger zoneHigh-risk location
- out of boundsBeyond permitted limits
- keep outPrevent entry
- no entryAccess not permitted
- Pandora's boxSource of cascading troubles
private property · closed door · red line · thin ice · uncharted territory · inner sanctum · slippery slope · sacred cow · dark secret · sanctuary · crime scene · unmarked grave · repressed memory · military base · border checkpoint · ethical dilemma · pilgrimage destination · holy of holies
forbidden groundopen access
Free public scholarly content
public land · common ground · free zone · public domain · fair game
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