near the knuckle

near the knuckle
phrasal
1. : near the permitted, accepted, or tolerable limit of what can be said or done: as
a. : verging on the border line between decency and indecency

jokes that were embarrassingly near the knuckle

b. : verging on what is offensive or injurious to one's sensibilities

accusations too near the knuckle for them to ignore

2. : near to what is of greatest importance, interest, or concern

the real reasons for doing this are, perhaps, nearer the knuckle than they think — John Holloway

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near the knuckle
On the verge of the indecent
• • •
Main Entry: ↑knuckle

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near the knuckle british informal phrase
rude and slightly offensive, especially about sex
Thesaurus: impolite and rudesynonym
Main entry: knuckle

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near the ˈknuckle idiom
(BrE, informal) (of a remark, joke, etc.) concerned with sex in a way that is likely to offend people or make them feel embarrassed

•

His act is too near the knuckle for me.

Main entry: ↑knuckleidiom

Useful english dictionary. 2012.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • near the knuckle — If something is near the knuckle, it is bit explicit or too close to the truth for comfort …   The small dictionary of idiomes

  • near the knuckle — ► near the knuckle Brit. informal verging on being indecent or offensive. Main Entry: ↑knuckle …   English terms dictionary

  • near the knuckle — adjective Risqué, sexual, suggestive of impropriety. So near the knuckle, I wonder they got past the censor …   Wiktionary

  • near the knuckle Brit. — near the knuckle Brit. informal verging on the indecent or offensive. → knuckle …   English new terms dictionary

  • near the knuckle —  See knuckle, near the …   A concise dictionary of English slang

  • be near the knuckle — British, informal if a joke or a remark is near the knuckle, it is about sex in a way that some people find offensive. Some of his jokes were a bit near the knuckle and, unfortunately, I was watching the show with my parents …   New idioms dictionary

  • near the knuckle — British informal rude and slightly offensive, especially about sex …   English dictionary

  • knuckle, near the —  Verging on the indecent. Tactlessly direct …   A concise dictionary of English slang

  • knuckle — ► NOUN 1) a part of a finger at a joint where the bone is near the surface. 2) a projection of the carpal or tarsal joint of a quadruped. 3) this projection as a joint of meat. ► VERB ▪ rub or press with the knuckles. ● knuckle down Cf. ↑ …   English terms dictionary

  • The Bill (series 6) — The Bill Series 6 Country of origin United Kingdom No. of episodes 104 Broadcast Original channel ITV …   Wikipedia

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