beyond the pale
Meaning: Beyond or outside the limits of morally or socially acceptable behavior.
Language: English
Literally: (Already vivid in English)
Category: Daily Life
Origin: The word pale in this expression should not be confused with the adjective meaning "colorless." Here, pale means a region surrounded by a paling or fence and ruled by a governing body. In British history, the pale was the area in and around Dublin, Ireland, which was colonized and ruled by the English. Beyond the pale was anything outside this area. To the English, this was synonymous with being outside law and order, i.e. outside civilization.
More idioms — Daily Life
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- big wheel — An important, powerful, or influential person.
- bigwig — An important, powerful or influential person.
- black and blue — Discolored from a bruise; injured in a fight either physically or verbally.
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More English idioms
- blow one's own horn — To boast or brag.
- blow one's stack — To become suddenly very angry.
- blow hot and cold — To have mixed or inconsistent feelings about something.
- blow off steam — To express one's anger, usually noisily and harmlessly, thereby relieving one's tension.
- blue — Sad.
- blue law — A law which regulates personal behavior such as going to certain movies, dancing, or gamb…
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