overstep the mark

present singular third person oversteps the mark · participle present overstepping the mark · participle past overstepped the mark · past overstepped the mark · alternative overstep the line

1. idiomaticTo behave in an unacceptable or morally reprehensible way.

   1 more example

   "If Russia mobilises, it is for defence. No nation in the world would dream of attacking Germany, nor has Germany the slightest intention of imperilling her coming supremacy amongst the nations by such crude methods as military enterprise. Servia must be punished, naturally, but to that, in principle, every nation in Europe is agreed. We shall not permit Austria to overstep the mark."

   1920, Edward Phillips Oppenheim, The Great Impersonation, Chapter 25

   Synonyms: go too far, cross the line