out of line
Beyond acceptable behavior
Out of line describes behavior or speech that violates accepted standards or boundaries.
Someone out of line has overstepped—been rude, inappropriate, or insubordinate: That comment was way out of line, He was out of line to question the boss publicly.
The phrase suggests deviation from proper conduct, like a soldier breaking formation.
- disobedienceRefusal to follow orders
- defianceOpen resistance to authority
- disrespectLack of regard
- overreactionDisproportionate emotional response
- misconductImproper professional behavior
bad behavior · impertinence · impropriety · inappropriate · amiss · misalignment · insubordination · transgression · irrelevance · misplacement · irregularity · crossing · unruliness · mutiny · insurgence · disorganization · brazen · subversion
- misbehaviormisbehave, misbehavior, mischief, misconduct, naughty
- unacceptableunacceptable, inappropriate, improper, wrong, forbidden
- scoldingscold, scolding, rebuke, berate, reprimand
- off targetoff target, off-target, off the mark, wide of the mark, wide
- risquerisque, racy, bawdy, ribald, suggestive
out of lineappropriate
Suited to circumstance
proper · acceptable · in line · respectful · fitting
out of linein line
Waiting in sequence
aligned · straight · in formation · in a row · lined up
out of linein keeping
Harmonious with surroundings
consistent · in line · par for the course · typical · expected
line, out, online, outline, outlined, outlining, outlines, offline, inline