stay in one's lane

Verb

stay in one's lane (third-person singular simple present stays in one's lane, present participle staying in one's lane, simple past and past participle stayed in one's lane)

1. (idiomatic, informal) In a way whereby one avoids dilettantism: avoiding giving an opinion in domains where one's skills and knowledge are not at an expert level.

   Synonyms:

   stick to one's knitting, know one's place

2. (idiomatic, informal) In a way whereby one avoids interfering in others' interests, regardless of skill level.

   Synonyms:

   stick to one's knitting, know one's place

3. (idiomatic, informal) To keep to one's own kind; to avoid intermixing or associating with other types of people.
   • That's because this place is racist, but also because most black filmmakers don't have an interest in integrating. They've accepted the premise that they must stay in their lane […]1999, Nelson George, Hip Hop America, page 84
   • There are those who try to outlive their means while others just stay in their lane. Some of us are used to being broke, having less […]2015, Daniel Steverson, The Blackening White, page 30

   Synonyms:

   know one's place

4. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see stay, in, one's, lane; for example, either manually or via lanekeeping by software.