limit

lim|it¹ W2S2 [ˈlımıt] n

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1¦(greatest/least allowed)¦

2¦(greatest amount possible)¦

3¦(place)¦

4 off limits

5 within limits

6 be over the limit

7 know your limits

8 have your limits

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[Date: 1300-1400; : French; Origin: limite, from Latin limes 'edge, boundary']

1.) ¦(GREATEST/LEAST ALLOWED)¦

the greatest or least amount, number, speed etc that is allowed

limit to/on

▪ There's a limit on the time you have to take the test.

▪ My wife and I set a limit on how much we spend on clothes.

▪ The cheque must not exceed the limit set by the banker's card.

▪ a 55 mph speed limit

▪ The time limit for making claims is three months.

▪ There's no age limit for applicants.

▪ an upper limit for pollution levels

▪ His blood alcohol level was 50% above the legal limit .

▪ The public would like strict spending limits on political campaigns.

2.) ¦(GREATEST AMOUNT POSSIBLE)¦ also limits

the greatest possible amount of something that can exist or be obtained

limit of

▪ the limits of human knowledge

▪ He'd reached the limit of his patience.

▪ Our finances are already stretched to the limit (=we do not have any extra money) .

▪ There's no limit to what you can do if you try.

3.) ¦(PLACE)¦ also limits

the furthest point or edge of a place, often one that must not be passed

▪ He had not been outside the limits of the prison walls for 20 years.

▪ The public is not allowed within a 2-mile limit of the missile site.

▪ Los Angeles city limits

4.) off limits

a) beyond the area where someone is allowed to go

▪ That area of beach was off limits to us 'city kids'.

b) beyond what you are allowed to do or have

▪ His private life is off limits to the press.

5.) within limits

within the time, level, amount etc considered acceptable

▪ You can come and go when you want - within limits.

6.) be over the limit

to have drunk more alcohol than is legal or safe for driving

7.) know your limits informal

to know what you are good at doing and what you are not good at

▪ I know my limits. I'm not an administrator.

8.) have your limits

spoken to have a set of ideas about what is reasonable to do, and to not accept behaviour that does not follow those ideas

▪ I have my limits. You will not use that kind of nasty language in class.

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COLLOCATES for sense 1

set/impose a limit

exceed a limit (=go beyond a limit)

speed limit

time limit

age limit

upper limit (=the highest point something can reach)

lower limit (=the lowest point something can reach)

above/below the limit

strict limit

legal limit

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limit ²

limit² W2S3 v

1.) [T]

to stop an amount or number from increasing beyond a particular point

▪ a decision to limit imports of foreign cars

limit sth to sth

▪ Seating is limited to 500.

2.) [T]

to stop someone from doing what they want or from developing and improving beyond a particular point

▪ A lack of formal education will limit your job opportunities.

limit yourself to sth

▪ I limit myself to two cups of coffee a day.

3.) be limited to sth

to exist or happen only in a particular place, group, or area of activity

▪ The damage was limited to the roof.