26984 words

sideline

10 definitions • 14 examples
1
an activity that you do as well as your main job:

Examples:

Jim works in a bank, but teaches French in the evenings as a sideline.
2
a line that shows the position of the side of an area where a sport is played:

Examples:

The ball fell just inside/on/outside the sideline.
3
If a sports player is sidelined they are prevented from playing or competing, and can only watch:

Examples:

Johnson has been sidelined through injury.
4
to stop someone taking an active and important part in something:

Examples:

He was sidelined after criticizing the policy.
5
an activity that is less important than the main one:

Examples:

Jean teaches French in the evening as a sideline.
6
(in some sports, esp. football) a line marking the side of the area of play:

Examples:

The ball fell just outside the sideline.
fig. I don’t like dancing, I’d rather watch from the sidelines (= not to be directly involved).
7
to remove a player from a game:

Examples:

He was sidelined because of injuries.
8
a business activity that someone does in addition to their main business:

Examples:

For many companies, producing own-label goods is not a sideline, it's a strategy for growth.
a sideline in sth The company has been developing a sideline in closed-circuit television since buying the electronics business last year.
9
not being used or not involved in an activity:

Examples:

The absence of new products is keeping consumers on the sidelines.
stay/wait/sit on the sidelines
10
to force someone or something into a situation in which they have less influence or importance than before:

Examples:

After I got pregnant, I felt that my bosses were sidelining me.
The oil industry would be very unhappy if this legislation was sidelined.

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