beyond the pale

beyond the pale
beyond the pale
Fig. unacceptable; outlawed. (A

pale

is a barrier made of wooden stakes.) •

Your behavior is simply beyond the pale.

Because of Tom's rudeness, he's considered beyond the pale and is never asked to parties anymore.

* * *
{adv.} or {adj. phr.} In disgrace; with no chance of being accepted or respected by others; not approved by the members of a group. * /After the outlaw killed a man he was beyond the pale and not even his old friends would talk to him./ * /Tom's swearing is beyond the pale; no one invites him to dinner any more./

Dictionary of American idioms. 2013.

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  • Beyond the Pale — is a phrase referring to unacceptable behaviour (see the first link below for further information). It may also refer to:*The Irish Pale, a demarcation line in Ireland while under English dominion. *The Pale of Settlement, an area of permitted… …   Wikipedia

  • beyond the pale — {adv.} or {adj. phr.} In disgrace; with no chance of being accepted or respected by others; not approved by the members of a group. * /After the outlaw killed a man he was beyond the pale and not even his old friends would talk to him./ * /Tom s… …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • beyond the pale — Pale Pale, n. [F. pal, fr. L. palus: cf. D. paal. See {Pole} a stake, and 1st {Pallet}.] 1. A pointed stake or slat, either driven into the ground, or fastened to a rail at the top and bottom, for fencing or inclosing; a picket. [1913 Webster]… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • beyond the pale — If something s beyond the pale, it is too extreme to be acceptable morally or socially …   The small dictionary of idiomes

  • beyond the pale — beyond the limit, over the boundary    His comment went beyond the pale of respect. It was vulgar …   English idioms

  • beyond the pale — ► beyond the pale outside the boundaries of acceptable behaviour. Main Entry: ↑pale …   English terms dictionary

  • beyond the pale — UNACCEPTABLE, unseemly, improper, unsuitable, unreasonable, intolerable, disgraceful, deplorable, outrageous, scandalous, shocking; informal not on, not the done thing, out of order, out of line; Austral./NZ informal over the fence; formal… …   Useful english dictionary

  • beyond\ the\ pale — adv or adj. phr. In disgrace; with no chance of being accepted or respected by others; not approved by the members of a group. After the outlaw killed a man he was beyond the pale and not even his old friends would talk to him. Tom s swearing is… …   Словарь американских идиом

  • beyond the pale — not acceptable to most people. For most people, a discussion like this has been simply beyond the pale. Etymology: based on a past meaning of pale (= an area in Ireland, Scotland, or France controlled by England), and the idea that places outside …   New idioms dictionary

  • beyond the pale — outside the bounds of acceptable behavior What they are doing is totally unacceptable and beyond the pale …   Idioms and examples

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