sideline

1 a line that marks the side boundary of a playing field [syn: out of bounds]

2 an auxiliary line of merchandise

3 an auxiliary activity [syn: avocation, by-line, hobby, spare-time activity]

English

Etymology

From side + line.

Pronunciation

• /ˈsaɪdlaɪn/, /"saIdlaIn/

Noun

sideline

1. (usually plural) The boundaries of a playing field.

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

2. The outside or perimeter of any activity.

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

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

   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.

Translations

Verb

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

   The coach sidelined the player until he regained his strength.

2. To remove or keep out of circulation.

   The illness sidelined him for weeks.

The "sidelines" is a term commonly used to define the white or colored lines which mark the outer boundaries of a sports field. American football sidelines, for example, mark the edge of the field. Should a player pass through the sidelines, he is considered out of bounds. The sidelines are also where the coaching staff and players out of play operate during a game.

The term "to be sidelined" refers to a player in a sports event who is unable to play (e.g. confined to the sideline) for injury, suspension, or other similar reasons. This term has spread into a business context; a project that has been "sidelined" is no longer a major concern or objective of the proponent company.

nope

avocation, bank, board, border, bordure, brim, brink, brow, by-line, catalog goods, coast, commodities, consumer goods, consumer items, delay, edge, effects, featheredge, flange, frame, fringe, goods, goods for sale, hem, hobby, hobbyhorse, inventory, job lot, labellum, labium, labrum, lay aside, lay away, lay by, ledge, limb, limbus, line, line of goods, lip, list, mail-order goods, marge, margin, merchandise, pastime, pigeonhole, postpone, push aside, put aside, put away, put in mothballs, ragged edge, rim, selvage, set aside, set by, shelve, shore, side, side interest, skirt, spare-time activity, staples, stock, stock-in-trade, store, stow, table, table the motion, vendibles, verge, wares