Why Is It Called "Off Limits"?

Factual Questions
1

Okay, I had my usual bad luck with this search engine, and nothing sounded appropriate on google, so I’m posting my question here.

After mopping the floor in the kitchen and dining rooms today, I said to no one there (D was at a family gathering), “Okay these rooms are off-limits until they dry”.
And then I wondered “Why is it called that? Shouldn’t it be ‘on-limits’, if you’re limiting traffic across a wet floor?”

So, because you guys are the champs, I’ll ask you. Why is it called that?

Thanks

Quasi

2

The focus is on the boundary itself. If you are in the kitchen and the floor’s not dry you are beyond (off) the limit of where you are allowed to be.

3

The sense I get is that the “limits” are the area you are allowed to be in. When you are “off-limits” you are outside of the legal area.

4

It was used a lot in the military.

5

The limits don’t apply to the people, they apply to the territory.

Think of your house as an army base. You’re the general, your kids are the new recuits (with boots).
New soldiers are allowed to wander within the limits of the base.
But anything beyond, is “off limits”.
Especially if the kitchen floor is still wet, and the boots are muddy. :slight_smile:

6

The word “off” once meant something more like “away from,” rather than “not on top of,” which is its more typical meaning today. So “off limits” meant something like “away from the limits,” which could be interpreted as being outside the limits:

7

It is still used a lot by the military.

8

Instead of “off-limits” why not say “beyond the pale”? It means about the same, but should sound more ominous and memorable. :cool:

9

So it’s basically saying, “Here is where you’re allowed to be”, right?

Thanks

Q