off limits
Not for you
Off limits describes places or topics that are forbidden or restricted—you're not allowed to go there or discuss them.
The phrase comes from military usage, where certain areas are declared off limits to unauthorized personnel.
It extends naturally: The boss's personal life is off limits, That part of the building is off limits to students.
Sometimes hyphenated when used before a noun: an off-limits zone.
Cultural or social prohibition
- prohibitedOfficially not permitted
- bannedOfficially disallowed
- outlawedForbidden by law
- illegalForbidden by statute
illicit · verboten · contraband · unauthorized · proscribed · interdicted · unlawful · no-go
Cannot be accessed
- blockedPassage prevented or impeded
- sealedClosed to prevent entry
- closedNot accessible now
- barricadedSealed off defensively
cordoned · fenced · gated · quarantined · exclusion zone · no-fly zone · buffer zone · perimeter
Restricted from disclosure
- confidentialMeant to stay secret
- privateRestricted to certain parties
- exclusiveLimited to one group
- secureProtected from harm
guarded · protected · clearance · authorized personnel · need-to-know · top secret · sealed · locked
taboo
Cultural or social prohibition
- prohibitedOfficially not permitted
- bannedOfficially disallowed
- outlawedForbidden by law
illegal · illicit · verboten · contraband · unauthorized · proscribed · interdicted · unlawful · no-go · vetoed
unreachable
Cannot be accessed
barricaded · cordoned · fenced · gated · quarantined · exclusion zone · no-fly zone · buffer zone · perimeter · boundary
classified
Restricted from disclosure
- confidentialMeant to stay secret
- privateRestricted to certain parties
- exclusiveLimited to one group
secure · guarded · protected · clearance · authorized personnel · need-to-know · top secret · sealed · locked · VIP
- Boundary phrasesno, stop, enough, boundaries, leave me alone
- Stay Awaykeep out, stay away, leave alone, keep away, no touching
- secrecysecrecy, secret, secrets, confidential, classified
- access rulesno entry, restricted area, authorized only, staff only, VIP only
- exclusionexclude, excluded, rule out, banned, bans
- Exclusivityexclusive, elite, VIP, members-only, private
off limitsopen
Not closed
accessible · permitted · allowed · available · unrestricted
off limitsfair game
Legitimate object of pursuit
on the table · acceptable · appropriate · permissible · kosher
off limitsunrestricted
Having no limitations
free access · public · unregulated · free-for-all · unbarred
off, limit, limited, limits, unlimited, limiting, preliminary, delimit, off-limits