in bounds

/ˌɪn ˈbaʊndz/
adverb
  1. Into or within the official playing area.
    • The player threw the ball in-bounds to his teammate.
    • The pass went in-bounds, and the game resumed.
    • She stepped in-bounds just before the whistle blew.
adjective
  1. Within the official playing area in a sport; legal or allowed.
    • The referee signaled that the ball was in-bounds, so play continued.
    • The shot was in-bounds, giving the team two points.
    • He kept his foot in-bounds as he caught the pass near the sideline.
  2. Within acceptable or proper limits; appropriate.
    • His comments were in-bounds during the polite discussion.
    • Make sure your questions stay in-bounds and respect people's privacy.
    • The joke was in-bounds for the friendly crowd.
Synonyms
What does "in bounds" mean? | whatsthatwordmean | whatsthatwordmean