within bounds

within bounds
within limits & within bounds
up to a certain point; with certain restrictions. •

You're free to do what you want—within limits, of course.

You must try to keep behavior at the party within bounds.

* * *
{adv.} or {adj. phr.} 1. Inside of the boundary lines in a game; on or inside of the playing field. * /You must hit the ball inside the lines of the tennis court or it will not be within bounds./ * /If you kick the football over a side-line, it will not be in bounds./ 2. Inside of a place where one is allowed to go or be. * /The soldiers are within bounds on one side of the city, but are out of bounds on the other side./ 3. Inside of safe or proper limits; allowable. * /If you ask Father for a quarter, he might give it to you, but a dollar would not be within bounds./ * /He succeeded in keeping his temper within bounds./ Contrast: OUT OF BOUNDS.

Dictionary of American idioms. 2013.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать курсовую

Look at other dictionaries:

  • within bounds — {adv.} or {adj. phr.} 1. Inside of the boundary lines in a game; on or inside of the playing field. * /You must hit the ball inside the lines of the tennis court or it will not be within bounds./ * /If you kick the football over a side line, it… …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • within bounds — index fairly (moderately) Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • within\ bounds — adv or adj. phr. 1. Inside of the boundary lines in a game; on or inside of the playing field. You must hit the ball inside the lines of the tennis court or it will not be within bounds. If you kick the football over a side line, it will not be… …   Словарь американских идиом

  • within bounds — within a permitted area …   English contemporary dictionary

  • within bounds — Synonyms and related words: analytically, calmly, composedly, conservatively, coolly, dispassionately, equably, evenly, frugally, in all conscience, in all reason, in balance, in moderation, in reason, judiciously, logically, moderately,… …   Moby Thesaurus

  • To keep within bounds — Bound Bound (bound), n. [OE. bounde, bunne, OF. bonne, bonde, bodne, F. borne, fr. LL. bodina, bodena, bonna; prob. of Celtic origin; cf. Arm. bonn boundary, limit, and boden, bod, a tuft or cluster of trees, by which a boundary or limit could be …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • enclose within bounds — index border (bound) Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • hold within bounds — index immure Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • keep within bounds — index censor, condemn (ban), confine, detain (hold in custody), detain (restrain), immure …   Law dictionary

  • bounds — n. 1) to set the bounds 2) out of bounds to 3) within bounds 4) (misc.) to know no bounds (her generosity knew no bounds) * * * out of bounds to to set the bounds within bounds (misc.) to know no bounds (her generosity knew no bounds) …   Combinatory dictionary

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