cross the line — go too far
collocationB2IELTS 6+neutralcommon
to behave in a way that is unacceptable or inappropriate, especially by breaking a rule or upsetting someone
Say it like a native
Textbook That comment overstepped the boundaries of acceptable behaviour.
Native That comment crossed the line.
'Crossed the line' says 'went too far' in three words; the formal version reads like a disciplinary letter.
Pattern: cross the line (with something/when doing something)
In use
- He was joking at first, but then he crossed the line and made everyone uncomfortable.relationships
- In my opinion, it's important to speak honestly, but if you insult someone, you cross the line and it becomes disrespectful.IELTS speaking
Common mistake
✗ She crossed over the line with that remark.
✓ She crossed the line with that remark.
The fixed idiom is 'cross the line' — not 'cross over the line'.
Common collocations
cross the line (+ with)— with that, completely, somewhere, this time
Don't confuse it
Not to be confused with 'draw the line', which means to set a limit.