''off limit''

[jctgf]

Democratic nominee Barack Obama, a target of Internet smears himself, said the children of candidates are off limits and he would fire any campaign worker who ignored that edict.

hi,
what does this expression mean, please? I've found on dictionary.com "forbidden to be patronized, frequented, used, etc., by certain persons". Does it mean that comments about candidate's children are not acceptable during a campaign?
thanks.

[Anglika]

Absolutely correct.

[jctgf]

Absolutely correct.

Can I say "smoking in here is absolutely off limits"? "making racist comments is off limits"?
Thanks.

[Anglika]

You can.