what's the meaning?

[venus]

Hi,
Please can any one tell me what is the meaning of the phrase: "out of line"? I heard it in a movie and I don't understand it.

[Anonymous]

Hi,
Please can any one tell me what is the meaning of the phrase: "out of line"? I heard it in a movie and I don't understand it.
if it is about price, it means the price has gone unusually.
generally,it meas discord with sth.

[Anonymous]

out of line
adv.
不成直线, 不一直, 不协调

[Anonymous]

out of line
adv.
不成直线, 不一直, 不协调

what???
Idon't understand???
-khalid_

[adri]

out of the line means "different from something" London prices are out of the line with the rest of the country :roll:

[Anonymous]

Hello, my name is Kimlang, i am from Cambodia, i am a person who want to learn english, i really want to improve. :D

[Anonymous]

venus



Joined: 22 Aug 2004
Posts: 1

Posted: Sun Aug 22, 2004 7:25 am Post subject: what's the meaning?

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
re:-
Hi,
Please can any one tell me what is the meaning of the phrase: "out of line"? I heard it in a movie and I don't understand it.
venus

reply
If someone says that someone is "out of line" they mean that the person has said something or behaved in a way that is not aceptable to the other person or people.
for example,
Gosh! Aren't you fat!!!
Hay watch what you say buddy. You're right out of line there!

hope this answers your question.

[Anonymous]

Hi,
Please can any one tell me what is the meaning of the phrase: "out of line"? I heard it in a movie and I don't understand it.

[Anonymous]

Hi,
Please can any one tell me what is the meaning of the phrase: "out of line"? I heard it in a movie and I don't understand it.

[ghoti]

OK Venus,
The post by qrst167 was "out of line" because it has nothing to do with your question nor anything in this thread.

[baby_femme]

Hi,
Please can any one tell me what is the meaning of the phrase: "out of line"? I heard it in a movie and I don't understand it.

OUT OF LINE- something or someone who doesn't belong to a specific group...

[qian1211]

It means sth goes far away from the ordinary ones

[ramblin robert]

My mom used to tell me that!

It's my belief that explaining the origin of phrasal verbs, which often times have a more direct/physical meaning can help students to understand the usually metaphorical meaning.

In this case, one should imagine people standing in line in an orderly fashion for service of some sort. One person is not in line but he still wants service as the others do. The person who is 'out of line' is not conforming to the behavior of the others.

Now, I can't say for sure that this is the actual origin of this phrasal verb, but I think it's useful for students. Sometimes metaphor is difficult to understand for a second language learner as he/she does not have the cultural cues. Americans are generally quite orderly (Brits too) and to be 'out of line' is not desirable where society is concerned. The actual origin could be military as well, where as we know, orderliness is necessary.

So my take on this is it refers to someone or something that does not conform to the rest of the group measured either by a physical characteristic or by some metaphorical perception.

Hope it helps. Rob