place a limit on

NOUN

[/pleɪs ə ˈlɪmɪt ɑːn/]

to set a maximum amount, number, or extent that something cannot exceed

💡 Concept

The mayor decided to place a limit on water use during the drought.

🎵 Rhyme

Place a limit on the permit, but fully commit!

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🎤Pronunciation

🇺🇸 US/pleɪs ə ˈlɪmɪt ɑːn/

🇬🇧 UK/pleɪs ə ˈlɪmɪt ɒn/

🌳Etymology

Origin

This phrase combines two Latin roots: 'place' derives from Latin platea, meaning 'broad street' or 'open space', which evolved to mean 'to put' or 'to set'. 'Limit' comes from Latin limes, meaning 'boundary' or 'borderline'. Together, the phrase developed to mean 'to establish a boundary or restriction'.

Breakdown

place (to set, from Latin platea) + limit (boundary, from Latin limes) + on (preposition indicating application). The construction literally means 'to set a boundary upon something'.

🎵Rhyme

permitcommitsubmit

permit

commit

submit

🔗Collocations

place a strict limit on

place a time limit on

place a spending limit on

place a limit on access

place a limit on immigration

place no limit on

📝Examples

😄 Fun example

“My mom placed a limit on my gaming time after I played for 12 hours straight.”

😄 Fun example

“The university placed a limit on the number of pizza slices per student at the cafeteria.”

“The company placed a limit on email length to improve productivity.”

“The city placed a limit on the number of food trucks operating downtown.”

📚Related Words

Synonyms

impose restrictions onset boundaries forestablish limits oncaprestrict

Antonyms

remove limitslift restrictionsallow unlimited

constraintregulationboundarythresholdquota

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place a limit on — to set a maximum amount, number, or extent that something cannot exceed

Example Sentences