beyond the pale

/bɪˈjɑːnd ðə peɪl/
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Outside the limits of acceptable behavior.

Examples

  • The threats are beyond the pale.
  • His remarks were beyond the pale.
  • Even his allies found the insult beyond the pale.
  • That treatment of staff is beyond the pale.
  • She called the decision beyond the pale.

Similar words

out of bounds
beyond acceptable limits
intolerable

Meanings

Unacceptably improper

social behavior
formal
So offensive or improper that it falls outside what a group can accept.

Examples

  • His remarks were beyond the pale.
  • The threats are beyond the pale.
  • She called the decision beyond the pale.
  • That treatment of staff is beyond the pale.
  • Even his allies found the insult beyond the pale.

Similar words

Etymology

A pale was a stake or a boundary. Beyond the pale places an action outside an accepted boundary.

FAQ

What does beyond the pale mean?

Beyond the pale means outside acceptable limits of behavior.

When is beyond the pale used?

It is used for offensive remarks, threats, or treatment.

How does beyond the pale differ from unacceptable?

Unacceptable is general; beyond the pale strongly condemns a breach of social standards.

How is beyond the pale used in a sentence?

His remarks were beyond the pale.

Is beyond the pale formal?

It has a formal, emphatic tone.

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