IELTS Idioms for Limitations and Restrictions

ielts-idioms-for-limitations-and-restrictions
1) bend /stretch the rules
Meaning- If you bend the rules you do something which is not allowed, either to help someone else or for your own advantage.
Example- I'm prepared to bend the rules - I may even have to break them.
Example- He accused the company of stretching the sport's rules to the limit.

2) the dos and don'ts
Meaning- The dos and do n'ts of a particular situation are the things you should and should not do in that situation.
Example- Disasters can be avoided if a few general dos and don'ts are considered.

3) draw the line
Meaning- If someone knows where to draw the line they know at what point an activity or situation   stops being reasonable and starts to be unacceptable.
Example- It is difficult for charities to know where to draw the line between acceptable and unacceptable sources of finance.

4) a fine line between something
Meaning- If there is a fine line between two different activities or situations there is a point at which they are very similar, often when one activity or situation is acceptable and the other is not.
Example- There is a fine line between being nicely looked after and never being left alone.

5) have your hands full
Meaning- If you have your hands full you are very busy.
Example- She's doing fine. She's got her hands full with the kids of course.

6) off limits
Meaning- If an area is off limits you are not allowed to go there.
Example- The area was kept off limits to foreign journalists until early this year.
Example- Of course, smoking was off limits everywhere.

7) out of bounds
Meaning- If a place is out of bounds you are not allowed to go there.
Example- The area has been out of bounds to foreigners for more than a month.
Example- Avoid signposted out-of-bounds areas.

8) over the top
Meaning- If you describe something as over the top you think that it is too extreme.
Example- At one point, which I think is a bit over the top, he talks about the end of civilization.
Example- Maybe he went a bit over the top with some of his language.


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