is out of line

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "is out of line" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that someone's behavior or comments are inappropriate or unacceptable. Example: "His remarks during the meeting were completely out of line and offended several team members."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"When the magnitude of the grant is out of line, you have guaranteed a windfall to the executive.

Los Angeles Times

If something is out of line, he'll correct it.

The New York Times - Sports

It is out of line with Terminiello v. City of Chicago, 337 U.S. 1, 69 S.Ct.

Cornell University

Of course your cousin is out of line for assuming her adult children are invited.

The New York Times

So what we're doing to measure success and failure is out of line".

The New York Times

Plus, a 41percentt win rate for Duke is out of line with conventional wisdom.

The Washington Post

It is out of line with a majority of Israeli Jews.

The Guardian

But, he added, "if any province is out of line, there will be consequences".

The Guardian

The sentence is out of line with the offense for which Mr. Tobin was convicted.

The New York Times

The living conditions are crowded, and rent is out of line with income.

The New Yorker

By contrast, when one's behavior or experience is out of line with one's reflective commitments, dissonance ensues.

Yale University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing behavior, consider alternatives like "inappropriate" or "unacceptable" if a more direct tone is desired.

Common error

While "is out of line" is widely understood, it may sound informal or colloquial in certain professional or academic settings. Opt for terms like "inappropriate", "unacceptable", or "deviates from policy" to maintain a formal tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "is out of line" functions primarily as a predicative adjective phrase. It describes a subject (person, behavior, statement) as deviating from an accepted standard or norm. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Academia

15%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "is out of line" is a prevalent and grammatically sound phrase used to express that something is inappropriate or unacceptable. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. Predominantly found in news and media, it conveys disapproval by highlighting a deviation from established norms. While versatile, its informality should be considered in formal contexts, where alternatives such as "inappropriate" or "unacceptable" may be more fitting. Related phrases like "is beyond the pale" or "crosses the line" offer varied shades of meaning, enhancing expressive precision.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is inappropriate

Replaces "out of line" with a more direct term for unacceptable behavior.

is unacceptable

Offers a stronger condemnation than "out of line", indicating a firm rejection.

is beyond the pale

Uses a more idiomatic expression to convey extreme inappropriateness.

is over the top

Suggests that something is excessive and therefore inappropriate.

is not acceptable

Similar to "is unacceptable" but phrased differently.

crosses the line

Uses a metaphor to indicate that a boundary of acceptable behavior has been breached.

is way off base

Indicates that something is completely wrong or misguided.

is uncalled for

Suggests that something was unnecessary and inappropriate in the situation.

is not on

A more informal way of saying that something is not acceptable.

is out of order

Implies that something is not following the correct procedure or is disrupting things.

FAQs

What does it mean when someone says something "is out of line"?

When someone says something "is out of line", it means they consider it inappropriate, unacceptable, or exceeding the bounds of what is considered proper behavior in a given situation.

How can I use "is out of line" in a sentence?

You can use "is out of line" to describe actions, comments, or behaviors. For example, "His comments during the meeting were completely "is out of line"" or "I felt that her question "is out of line" considering the circumstances."

What are some alternatives to saying something "is out of line"?

Instead of "is out of line", you could say something "is inappropriate", "is unacceptable", or "crosses the line", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it ever acceptable to use "is out of line" in formal writing?

While generally acceptable, "is out of line" might be perceived as informal in some formal contexts. Consider using more formal alternatives like "is inappropriate" or "is unacceptable" in academic papers, business reports, or official correspondence.