Dictionary

sideline en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /ˈsaɪdlaɪn/
• (US) audio

Etymology

From side + line.

Meanings

1. A line at the side of something.
   • Like most other fishes, the dragonet varies slightly in colour in different individuals, and at different seasons of the year. Mr. Pennant describes the pupils of the eyes to be of a rich sapphirine blue; the irides fine fiery carbuncle; the pectoral fins light brown; the side-line straight; the colours of the fish yellow, blue, and white, making a beautiful appearance when fresh taken. 1809, William Nicholson, “CALLIONYMUS”, in The British Encyclopedia, or Dictionary of Arts and Sciences; […], volume II (B … E), London: Printed by C[harles] Whittingham, […]; for Longman, Hurst, Rees, and Orme, […], →OCLC, column 1:
2. 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.
   • I often do electronic repairs as a sideline.
3. A line for hobbling an animal by connecting the fore and the hind feet of the same side.
4. A line defining the side boundary of a playing field. Used in Canadian football, field lacrosse and basketball.
5. (plural-normally) The area outside the playing field beyond each sideline.
   • The coach stood on the sidelines and bellowed commands at the team.
6. (figuratively) The outside or perimeter of any activity.
   • She installed the whole fixture while he simply watched from the sidelines.
   • Conservative Catholics, Relegated to Sidelines, Denounce Papal Gathering [title] 2023 October 3, Jason Horowitz, “Conservative Catholics, Relegated to Sidelines, Denounce Papal Gathering”, in The New York Times, →ISSN:
   • to relegate to the sidelines
7. (Canada) A secondary road, especially a byroad at right angles to a main road.
8. (Philippines) A side hustle.

Forms

Deriveds

sideline cut · sideline reporter · sideliner

Synonyms

touchline

Translations (43)

tl tabing guhit ((sports) side boundary of a playing field) · hu másodállás (something additional or existing around the margins) · pl margines (outside or perimeter of any activity) · hu partvonal ((sports) side boundary of a playing field) · hu mellékfoglalkozás (something additional or existing around the margins) · ru бокова́я ли́ния ((sports) area beyond sideline) · ru бокова́я ли́ния (line at the side) · pl pobocze (outside or perimeter of any activity) · ga taobhlíne ((sports) side boundary of a playing field) · hu mellékállás (something additional or existing around the margins) · cs pomezní čára ((sports) side boundary of a playing field) · es línea de cal ((sports) side boundary of a playing field) · tl hiwatik (something additional or existing around the margins) · nb sidelinje ((sports) side boundary of a playing field) · pl linia boczna ((sports) side boundary of a playing field) · nn sidelinje ((sports) side boundary of a playing field) · fi kentän laita ((sports) area beyond sideline) · fi oheistuote (something additional or existing around the margins) · ca línia de banda ((sports) side boundary of a playing field) · es línea de banda ((sports) side boundary of a playing field) · pt linha lateral (line at the side) · fi sivu (outside or perimeter of any activity) · ru бокова́я ли́ния ((sports) side boundary of a playing field) · fi reunaviiva (line at the side) · hu másodlagos (something additional or existing around the margins) · fr ligne de touche ((sports) side boundary of a playing field) · es banda ((sports) area beyond sideline) · fi sivuraja ((sports) side boundary of a playing field) · pl działalność na boku (something additional or existing around the margins) · hu másod- (something additional or existing around the margins) · nn sideline ((sports) side boundary of a playing field) · fi sivu- (something additional or existing around the margins) · fr touche ((sports) side boundary of a playing field) · fi sivutoimi (something additional or existing around the margins) · cs postranní čára ((sports) side boundary of a playing field) · hu mellék- (something additional or existing around the margins) · mi paetaha ((sports) side boundary of a playing field) · pl linia boczna ((sports) area beyond sideline) · tl tabing guhit (line at the side) · hu oldalvonal ((sports) side boundary of a playing field) · hu mellékes (something additional or existing around the margins) · pl linia boczna (line at the side) · fi oheis- (something additional or existing around the margins)

sideline en · VERB

Pronunciation

• /ˈsaɪdlaɪn/
• (US) audio

Etymology

From side + line.

Meanings

1. (transitive) To place on the sidelines; to bench or to keep someone out of play.
   • Gomez got his chance with Gary Cahill sidelined and took it superbly with an assured performance as part of a three-man defence Southgate now looks certain to use at the World Cup. 2017 November 14, Phil McNulty, “England 0-0 Brazil”, in BBC News:
   • The coach sidelined the player until he regained his strength.
2. (figuratively, transitive) To remove or keep out of circulation or out of the focus.
   • The illness sidelined him for weeks.
   • During 1971-72, spare Type 4s on other regions enabled the whole class to be sidelined, with Class 43s going first. 2022 January 12, David Clough, “From Germany with love: a Warship retrospective”, in RAIL, number 948, page 49:
   • Subplots that might have been fun to explore were relegated or eventually sidelined altogether in the case of characters like Gendry, who disappeared for years and finally resurfaces as a blacksmith in King’s Landing, literally waiting for the call to his hero’s journey. 2017 August 13, Brandon Nowalk, “Oldtown offers one last game-changing secret as Game Of Thrones goes behind enemy lines (newbies)”, in The Onion AV Club:
   • Prigozhin’s exclusion from Ukraine would sideline one of Russia’s most recognisable war figures. 2023 June 14, Pjotr Sauer, Andrew Roth, “Putin sides with military chiefs over placing Wagner under direct control”, in The Guardian, →ISSN:
   • At National Review, he [William Buckley] got rid of the Birchites—a conspirational fringe claiming Eisenhower for a communist—tamed the libertarians, dropped (eventually) the magazine's white racism and sidelined its antisemites. 2025 June 14, Edmund Fawcett, “Writing the right”, in FT Weekend (Life & Arts section), London: The Financial Times Ltd., →ISSN, →OCLC, page 8:

Forms

Synonyms

marginalize

Translations (15)

pl wykluczyć z gry (to put out of circulation) · pl wyeliminować z gry (to put out of circulation) · pt pôr à parte (to put out of circulation) · pl odsunąć od gry (to put out of circulation) · mi mōtaha (to put out of circulation) · es dejar de lado (to put out of circulation) · mi whakataha (to put out of circulation) · pl eliminować z gry (to put out of circulation) · mi whakakaurapa (to put out of circulation) · it estromettere (to put out of circulation) · pt marginalizar (to put out of circulation) · mi tāki (to put out of circulation) · pl wykluczać z gry (to put out of circulation) · pl odsuwać od gry (to put out of circulation) · mi tātāki (to put out of circulation)