draw the line
限界を設ける
解説 Definition
許容できる範囲に限度を設けること。これ以上は受け入れないという境界線を引く。
This idiom means to set a limit on what you will accept or allow. It is often used when someone decides that certain behavior or actions are not okay anymore. It can refer to personal boundaries, rules, or moral standards.
覚え方のコツ Memory Tip
まず文字どおりに「線を引く」と思い浮かべると覚えやすい表現です。point out のように説明する動きではなく、ここから先は入れないという境界設定の感覚が中心。特に draw the line at ... で「…までは許さない」となり、accept や allow より強く拒否の姿勢が出ます。仕事・要求・冗談などで「それはさすがに越える」と感じた場面と結びつけると定着しやすいです。
Picture someone drawing a real line on the ground and saying, "No further." That makes it easy to remember as setting a limit or boundary. The common pattern "draw the line at ..." is especially useful because it shows exactly what you will not accept.
例文
You have to draw the line somewhere, or people will keep taking advantage of your generosity.
どこかで限界を設けないと、人々はあなたの寛大さにつけ込み続けるだろう。
The company draws the line at asking employees to work more than 50 hours per week.
その会社は従業員に週50時間を超えて働かせることは認めていない。
I don't mind helping out, but I draw the line at doing someone else's entire job.
手伝うのは構わないが、他人の仕事を丸ごとやるのはお断りだ。
draw the line の類義語・関連語
draw the line の語源・成り立ち Etymology
英語成句で、draw は古英語 dragan「引く」、line は古フランス語経由でラテン語 linea「亜麻の糸・境界線」に由来する。糸をぴんと引いて境目を作る感覚から「ここまで」と決める表現になり、linear や delineate を知ると限界設定の像が鮮明になる。
This phrase joins "draw," from Old English "dragan" meaning "pull," with "line," from Latin "linea" through Old French. "Linea" first meant a linen thread, then a line or boundary. From the idea of pulling a line to mark a limit, the expression came to mean setting a clear boundary; related words include "linear" and "delineate."
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