sideline

The space beside a sports field where coaches and players who are not playing stand.

• The coach waited on the sideline.
• Injured players watched from the sidelines.
• She ran to the sideline to get a drink.

Common phrases: on the sideline, from the sideline, near the sideline

A line marking the side edge of an area where a sport is played.

• The ball crossed the sideline.
• Both sidelines were painted white before the match.
• Keep your feet inside the sideline when you catch it.

Similar words: touchline

Common phrases: cross the sideline, near the sideline, sideline boundary

An activity or business you do in addition to your main work.

• She repairs bikes as a sideline.
• His small sideline became a successful business.
• They started selling cakes as a sideline to their regular jobs.

How to use it: a sideline to something (Selling honey is a sideline to his farming work.)

Similar words: side business, secondary activity

Common phrases: as a sideline, profitable sideline, sideline business

A position outside an activity, where you watch but do not take part.

• She watched the dispute from the sidelines.
• I refuse to sit on the sidelines while decisions are made.
• The new rules pushed smaller groups to the sidelines.

How to use it: on the sidelines of something (He remained on the sidelines of the debate.)

Similar words: margins, periphery

Opposites: center

Common phrases: on the sideline, from the sideline

A line along the side of something.

• Draw a sideline beside the central shape.
• The diagram has two parallel sidelines.
• A faint sideline marks the edge of the design.

Common phrases: draw a sideline, along the sideline

To prevent a player from taking part in a game.

• A knee injury sidelined our best player.
• The coach may sideline him for the next match.
• Two defenders were sidelined during the final week of training.

Similar words: bench

Common phrases: sideline a player, sideline someone temporarily

To stop someone or something from being involved, active, or important.

• The illness sidelined her for a month.
• Managers sidelined the proposal during budget talks.
• They tried to sideline him after he questioned their decisions.

Similar words: exclude, marginalize

Opposites: include

Common phrases: sideline someone completely, sideline a project