sideline

plural sidelines · alternative side line · alternative side-line

1. A line at the side of something.

   1 more example

   Like most other fishes, the dragonet varies slightly in colour in different individuals, and at different seasons of the year. Mr. Pennant describes the pupils of the eyes to be of a rich sapphirine blue; the irides fine fiery carbuncle; the pectoral fins light brown; the side-line straight; the colours of the fish yellow, blue, and white, making a beautiful appearance when fresh taken.

   1809, William Nicholson, “CALLIONYMUS”, in The British Encyclopedia, or Dictionary of Arts and Sciences; […], volume II (B … E), London: Printed by C[harles] Whittingham, […]; for Longman, Hurst, Rees, and Orme, […], →OCLC, column 1

2. Something that is additional or extra or that exists around the edges or margins of a main item.

   I often do electronic repairs as a sideline.

   2 more examples

   She started the business as a sideline to her regular work and it ended up becoming the greater source of income.

   Soup need not be just a sideline to a meal; if you like, it can be the main course.

3. A line for hobbling an animal by connecting the fore and the hind feet of the same side.
4. hobbiesA line defining the side boundary of a playing field. Used in Canadian football, field lacrosse and basketball.

   Synonyms: touchline

5. plural normallyhobbiesThe area outside the playing field beyond each sideline.

   The coach stood on the sidelines and bellowed commands at the team.

6. figurativelyThe outside or perimeter of any activity.

   to relegate to the sidelines

   2 more examples

   She installed the whole fixture while he simply watched from the sidelines.

   Conservative Catholics, Relegated to Sidelines, Denounce Papal Gathering [title]

   2023 October 3, Jason Horowitz, “Conservative Catholics, Relegated to Sidelines, Denounce Papal Gathering”, in The New York Times, →ISSN

7. CanadaA secondary road, especially a byroad at right angles to a main road.
8. PhilippinesA side hustle.

present singular third person sidelines · participle present sidelining · participle past sidelined · past sidelined · alternative side line · alternative side-line

1. transitivehobbiesTo place on the sidelines; to bench or to keep someone out of play.

   The coach sidelined the player until he regained his strength.

   1 more example

   Gomez got his chance with Gary Cahill sidelined and took it superbly with an assured performance as part of a three-man defence Southgate now looks certain to use at the World Cup.

   2017 November 14, Phil McNulty, “England 0-0 Brazil”, in BBC News

2. figurativelytransitiveTo remove or keep out of circulation or out of the focus.

   The illness sidelined him for weeks.

   4 more examples

   Subplots that might have been fun to explore were relegated or eventually sidelined altogether in the case of characters like Gendry, who disappeared for years and finally resurfaces as a blacksmith in King’s Landing, literally waiting for the call to his hero’s journey.

   2017 August 13, Brandon Nowalk, “Oldtown offers one last game-changing secret as Game Of Thrones goes behind enemy lines (newbies)”, in The Onion AV Club, archived from the original on 17 Aug 2017

   During 1971-72, spare Type 4s on other regions enabled the whole class to be sidelined, with Class 43s going first.

   2022 January 12, David Clough, “From Germany with love: a Warship retrospective”, in RAIL, number 948, page 49

   Prigozhin’s exclusion from Ukraine would sideline one of Russia’s most recognisable war figures.

   2023 June 14, Pjotr Sauer, Andrew Roth, “Putin sides with military chiefs over placing Wagner under direct control”, in The Guardian, →ISSN

   At National Review, he [William Buckley] got rid of the Birchites—a conspirational fringe claiming Eisenhower for a communist—tamed the libertarians, dropped (eventually) the magazine's white racism and sidelined its antisemites.

   2025 June 14, Edmund Fawcett, “Writing the right”, in FT Weekend (Life & Arts section), London: The Financial Times Ltd., →ISSN, →OCLC, page 8