bound (redirected from bounds)

*out-of-bounds 

1. Lit. outside the boundaries of the playing area. (*Typically: be ~; get ~; go ~.) The ball went out-of-bounds just at the end of the game. The whistle blew when Juan went out-of-bounds.

2. and *off-limits Fig. forbidden. (*Typically: be ~.) This area is off-limits. You can't go in there. Don't go there. It's out-of-bounds. That kind of behavior is off-limits. Stop it!

all oak and iron bound and *sound as a barrel

Rur. in good health; feeling good. (*Also: as ~.) Tom: How are you today? Bill: All oak and iron bound, thank you. Jane made a wonderful recovery from her surgery, and now she's as sound as a barrel.

See also: and, barrel, iron, oak

bound and determined

Cliché very determined; very committed or dedicated (to something). We were bound and determined to get there on time. I'm bound and determined that this won't happen again.

See also: and, determined

bound for

somewhere headed for a specific goal or destination. Bill accidentally got on a bus bound for Miami. Our baseball team is bound for glory.

bound hand and foot

with hands and feet tied up. The robbers left us bound hand and foot. We remained bound hand and foot until the police found us and untied us.

See also: and, foot, hand

bound to do something

certain to do something; destined to do something. Jill's bound to do a good job. We are bound to tell the truth.

bound up with someone or something

deeply concerned or involved with someone or something. He's so bound up with his work, he has time for nothing else. Andrew is bound up with his girlfriend and has time for no one else.

See also: up

by leaps and bounds

Fig. rapidly; by large movements forward. The brush we cut back last fall is growing by leaps and bounds. The profits of my company are increasing by leaps and bounds. He is gaining by leaps and bounds.

See also: and, leap

duty bound

(to do something) forced by a sense of duty and honor to do something. Good evening, madam. I'm duty bound to inform you that we have arrested your husband. No one made me say that. I was duty bound.

See also: duty

increase by leaps and bounds

Fig. to increase or grow by large increments. (See also gain by leaps and bounds.) The price of our stock is increasing by leaps and bounds.

See also: and, increase, leap

keep (someone or something) within bounds

Fig. to cause someone or something to remain constrained or be reasonable; to cause someone to act or something to be in good taste. I know you want artistic freedom, but if you want an audience, you are going to have to keep within bounds. Try to keep the children within bounds. Do keep your behavior within bounds.

See also: keep, within

within limits and 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.

See also: limit, within

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be bound and determined  (American)

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

See also: and, 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.

See know no bounds

See also: out

be/feel honour-bound to do something   (British & Australian) also be/feel honor-bound to do something (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.

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: and, 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

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bound and determined

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

See also: and, determined

bound up in something

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

See also: up

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.

See also: up

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: and, grow, leap

know no bounds (slightly formal)

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.

See also: out

overstep your/its bounds also overstep the 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