bound (redirected from bound up)

be bound and determined (American)

to have a strong wish to do something and to not allow anything to stop you from doing it. She's bound and determined to make her career in medical research. (often + to do something)

See also: determined

be duty bound to do something

if you are duty bound to do something, you have to do it because it is your duty. The government is duty bound to compensate those who lost money. I've been given a certain amount of training so I feel duty bound to stay in the job for at least a year.

See also: duty

be out of bounds

1. if an area is out of bounds, you are not allowed to go there. All military sites are totally out of bounds.

2. if an activity or object is out of bounds, it is not approved of or not allowed. High fat foods are out of bounds on this diet.

be/feel honour-bound to do something (British & Australian, American & Australian)

to feel that you must do something because it is morally right, even if you do not want to do it. I'd rather go to Andrew's party but I feel honour-bound to go to Caroline's because she asked me first.

See also: feel

by/in leaps and bounds

if progress or growth happens in leaps and bounds, it happens very quickly. Ashley's reading has come on in leaps and bounds since she's been at her new school. Leaders of the organization say their membership is growing by leaps and bounds.

See also: leap

know no bounds (formal)

if an emotion or quality knows no bounds, it is not limited. Tom's loyalty to the company knows no bounds.

See also: know

---

bound and determined

completely serious. The women of the town were bound and determined to have a school built.

See also: determined

bound up in something

to be completely involved in or connected with something. These guys' lives are completely bound up in baseball.

bound up with something

to be connected to something else. The secretary pointed out that US security is absolutely bound up with the security of Europe.

duty bound to do something

required to do something. Investigators are duty bound to find out what happened and make a report.

See also: duty

grow by leaps and bounds

to become larger quickly. Since we had that good rain, my tomatoes have grown by leaps and bounds. That boy has grown by leaps and bounds this year.

See also: grow, leap

know no bounds

to have no limit. Tom's determination to succeed knows no bounds.

See also: know

out of bounds

not allowed or approved. The judge ruled that the lawyer's questions were out of bounds. Most military bases are totally out of bounds for reporters.

Etymology: based on the literal meaning of out of bounds (= beyond a limit or line on a field on which games are played)

overstep your/its bounds

to do more than you are allowed to do or should do. Many believe that Congress overstepped its bounds in passing this new gun control law. Some of his colleagues may have overstepped the bounds of good taste.

See also: overstep