limit (redirected from limitative)

*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!

go the limit

Fig. to do as much as possible; to get as much as possible. Let's plan to do everything we can. Let's go the limit. We'll go the limit. To heck with the cost.

go to the limit

to do as much as is possible to do. Okay, we can't afford it, but we'll go to the limit. How far shall I go? Shall I go to the limit?

limit someone to something 

1. to restrict someone to a certain amount or number of something. I will have to limit you to two helpings of mashed potatoes. I limit myself to cola drinks only.

2. to restrict someone to a certain area. Please try to limit your children to your own yard. They limited themselves to the north side of town.

limit something to something

to restrict something to a limited set, a certain amount, or a specific number of something. Please limit your comments to five minutes. Can you limit your remarks to the subject at hand?

The sky's the limit.

Inf. there is no upper limit. I can afford it. The sky's the limit. You can do anything you set your mind to, Billy. The sky's the limit.

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: within

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off limits 

1. if an area is off limits, you are not allowed to enter it When we were kids, our parents' bedroom was definitely off limits.

2. not allowed Today's magazines tackle the sort of subjects that would once have been considered off limits. What he does make very clear is that questions about his private life are off limits.

The sky's the limit.

something that you say which means there is no limit to what something or someone can achieve With two important film roles and a major award, it seems like the sky's the limit for this talented young actress.

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the sky's the limit also the sky is the limit

there is no limit Smaller sailboats can be reasonably priced, but for bigger boats the sky's the limit.