out of bounds
Past the line
Out of bounds means beyond permitted limits.
In sports, it describes areas outside the field of play: The ball went out of bounds.
More broadly, it means forbidden or off-limits: That topic is out of bounds for discussion.
A place can be out of bounds to certain people: The officers' club was out of bounds to enlisted men.
Secondary business pursuit
- baselineStandard for comparison
- foulOffensive or illegal
- throw-inSideline ball return
- touchlineField's side boundary
goal-line · penalty · offside · endzone · linesman · flag · whistle · turnover
Prohibited from access
- forbiddenNot allowed
- restrictedLimited in scope
- barredBlocked from entry
- bannedOfficially disallowed
taboo · verboten · proscribed · disallowed · interdicted · impermissible · unauthorized · no-go
Shape's outer edge length
- borderOuter edge or limit
- edgeBoundary or sharpness
- limitMaximum allowed extent
- demarcationFormal boundary setting
threshold · confines · periphery · margin · fringe · frontier · line · fence
One excluded from group
- unwelcomeNot wanted here
- blacklistedFormally excluded or barred
- bannedOfficially disallowed
- excludedShut out, denied entry
rejected · uninvited · ostracized · expelled
Breaking of rules
- infractionMinor rule breach
- breachBreaking of agreement
- overstepExceed proper limits
- encroachmentGradual intrusion on territory
trespass · overreach · infringement · intrusion · exceeding · misconduct
Not suitable or fitting
- improperLacking in propriety
- unseemlyInappropriate for the occasion
- indecentOffensive to accepted standards
- excessiveSurpassing reasonable bounds
unreasonable · over-the-line · objectionable · offensive · unwarranted · unjustifiable · uncalled-for · unacceptable
sideline
Secondary business pursuit
touchline · goal-line · penalty · offside · endzone · linesman · flag · whistle · turnover · possession
off-limits
Prohibited from access
- forbiddenNot allowed
- restrictedLimited in scope
- barredBlocked from entry
banned · taboo · verboten · proscribed · disallowed · interdicted · impermissible · unauthorized · no-go · closed
perimeter
Shape's outer edge length
demarcation · threshold · confines · periphery · margin · fringe · frontier · line · fence · barrier
outsider
One excluded from group
- unwelcomeNot wanted here
- blacklistedFormally excluded or barred
- bannedOfficially disallowed
excluded · rejected · uninvited · ostracized · expelled
violation
Breaking of rules
- infractionMinor rule breach
- breachBreaking of agreement
- overstepExceed proper limits
encroachment · trespass · overreach · infringement · intrusion · exceeding · misconduct
inappropriate
Not suitable or fitting
- improperLacking in propriety
- unseemlyInappropriate for the occasion
- indecentOffensive to accepted standards
excessive · unreasonable · over-the-line · objectionable · offensive · unwarranted · unjustifiable · uncalled-for · unacceptable
- football rulesdowns, first down, first downs, touchdowns, field goals
- basketball rulespersonal foul, technical foul, traveling, double dribble, carrying
- field markingsyard line, yard lines, goal line, end line, sideline
- game callsfoul, offsides, offside, traveling, travel
- golf hazardssand trap, water hazard, bunker, rough, penalty area
- tennis rulesfoot fault, scoring, tiebreak, let, fault
out of boundsin bounds
Within the playing area
in play · inbounds · fair territory · fair · live
out of boundswithin bounds
acceptable · appropriate · permissible · allowed · proper
out of boundsopen
Not closed
accessible · permitted · unrestricted · authorized · open to the public
outside, boundary, bounds, rebound, bounding, abound, boundless, unbounded, unbind