An Americanism dating back to 1950–55
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
McBride says the technology has transformed the work at Legacy Effects, where he is a lab manager, but he’s worried it will soon be off-limits because of a proposed change in California law.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 19, 2026
Current co-workers are off-limits because he doesn’t want applicants’ employers to know they are thinking of jumping ship.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 11, 2026
During the early days of the Iran conflict, investors flocked to Hyperliquid, a decentralized exchange off-limits to most U.S. customers, to trade crude-oil perpetual futures over the weekend, while traditional futures markets were closed.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 5, 2026
Xi reportedly name-dropped his friend Putin to Trump last week, when the two leaders walked through Zhongnanhai, which is normally off-limits to foreign visitors, joking about how Putin had visited Beijing's political sanctuary before.
From BBC ● May 18, 2026
“It is off-limits and guarded by vork. You are right that it is miraculous, wise and clever guest. It was brought here by Ghohg the Protector when he first arrived among us.”
From "The Assassination of Brangwain Spurge" by M.T. Anderson and Eugene Yelchin
It seems like nothing is off limits these days in L.A.’s most woo-woo wellness scenes.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 8, 2026
Digital Richard even helps Skellett manage his personal life, with tabs labelled "family" and "admin" that are off limits to work colleagues, who can otherwise access Digital Richard to ask business-related questions.
From BBC ● Apr. 16, 2026
With Qatari gas off limits, a bidding war for cargoes from elsewhere broke out on the high seas.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 8, 2026
The Emergency Treatment Unit was off limits to visitors and other patients, with the medical authorities setting up a separate ward for the Iranians.
From Barron's ● Mar. 5, 2026
Because the hospital cells were off limits to the general population, we had a number of traveling prisoners stay with us.
From "Hole in My Life" by Jack Gantos
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
