Trespass/Surpass!

Status
Not open for further replies.

RoseSpring

Member
Joined
Mar 13, 2009
Member Type
Academic
Native Language
Arabic
Home Country
Egypt
Current Location
Egypt
Do we say:

One souldn't trespass/ surpass his limits?

Or there are other comon expressions?
 

emsr2d2

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Jul 28, 2009
Member Type
English Teacher
Native Language
British English
Home Country
UK
Current Location
UK
Do we say:

One souldn't trespass/ surpass his limits?

Or there are other comon expressions?

What do you think are the definitions of "trespass" and "surpass"?
 

RoseSpring

Member
Joined
Mar 13, 2009
Member Type
Academic
Native Language
Arabic
Home Country
Egypt
Current Location
Egypt
I found this meaning concerning trespass:

Pass beyond (limits or boundaries)
 

RoseSpring

Member
Joined
Mar 13, 2009
Member Type
Academic
Native Language
Arabic
Home Country
Egypt
Current Location
Egypt
Could anyone help?
 

emsr2d2

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Jul 28, 2009
Member Type
English Teacher
Native Language
British English
Home Country
UK
Current Location
UK
Trespass is more about crossing the physical limits, of land, for instance.

If you go onto private property without permission, then when you cross the boundary, you are guilty of trespass.
 

RoseSpring

Member
Joined
Mar 13, 2009
Member Type
Academic
Native Language
Arabic
Home Country
Egypt
Current Location
Egypt
I'll try to set an example to make my point clearer:

If for example an employee is talking to his manager. The manager begins to shout at him. Then, the employee starts to answer back. Of course, the manager will be angry and might say:

"Don't trespass/ exceed your limits/bouderies."

This is how I want to use the verb of trespass.
 

emsr2d2

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Jul 28, 2009
Member Type
English Teacher
Native Language
British English
Home Country
UK
Current Location
UK
I'll try to set an example to make my point clearer:

If for example an employee is talking to his manager. The manager begins to shout at him. Then, the employee starts to answer back. Of course, the manager will be angry and might say:

"Don't trespass/ exceed your limits/bouderies."

This is how I want to use the verb of trespass.

That's why I pointed out that "trespass" is specifically for physical boundaries! For your context, I would be inclined to think that the manager might say something like:

Don't cross the line.
Careful! You're in danger of crossing the boundaries of our professional relationship!

Trespass really doesn't work here.
 

RoseSpring

Member
Joined
Mar 13, 2009
Member Type
Academic
Native Language
Arabic
Home Country
Egypt
Current Location
Egypt
Thanks indeed.

Is that mean that if a person is talking to someone who is higher than him in position or social status and then he answered in impolite or in an improper way, the other person ( higher position) might say something like the one you've suggested, correct?
 

bertietheblue

Senior Member
Joined
May 21, 2010
Member Type
Other
Native Language
English
Home Country
UK
Current Location
UK
'overstep' is a good alternative - it actually means passing beyond a limit, especially violating an expected standard of behaviour. You can 'overstep a limit/boundary/line' and there's also the idiom 'to overstep the mark', which means to behave in an acceptable way.
 

emsr2d2

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Jul 28, 2009
Member Type
English Teacher
Native Language
British English
Home Country
UK
Current Location
UK
'overstep' is a good alternative - it actually means passing beyond a limit, especially violating an expected standard of behaviour. You can 'overstep a limit/boundary/line' and there's also the idiom 'to overstep the mark', which means to behave in an acceptable way.


Thanks Bertie! I was wracking my brains trying to work out what the better word was (overstep) and for some reason, it simply refused to exit my brain!
 

RoseSpring

Member
Joined
Mar 13, 2009
Member Type
Academic
Native Language
Arabic
Home Country
Egypt
Current Location
Egypt
Can I use the expression: "You are out of line?!
 

Barb_D

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Mar 12, 2007
Member Type
Other
Native Language
American English
Home Country
United States
Current Location
United States
Yes.

However, where I work, even someone who is in authority over someone else would be out of line to be shouting at an employee. It would be considered unprofessional and if a boss was truly shouting at an employee, the employee would have cause for complaint.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top