📒 a long, thin mark on a surface
- a straight/solid/dotted/dashed line
- a wavy/diagonal line
- a vertical/horizontal line
📒 a long, thin mark on the ground to show the limit or border of something, especially of a playing area in some sports
- The first to cross the line wins the race.
- She crossed the centre line and hit an oncoming truck.
- over/across the line The ball was over the line.
📒 a mark like a line on somebody’s skin that people usually get as they get older
- He has fine lines around his eyes.
- Deep worry lines had appeared on her forehead.
- I saw the faint lines of concern etched into his brow.
📒 a row of people or things next to each other or behind each other
- They formed a line and marched forward.
- in a line The children all stood in a line.
- line of something They were stuck in a line of traffic.
📒 a queue of people
- A line formed at each teller window.
- in line to stand/wait in line
- If you want a ticket, get in line.
📒 a phone connection; a particular phone number
- The phone lines were jammed (= very busy) with people calling to complain.
- I tried to call but the line was busy.
- I was talking to John when the line suddenly went dead.
📒 a railway track or other transport route; a section of a transport system or route
- The train was delayed because a tree had fallen across the line.
- a rail line
- (British English also) a railway line
📒 the direction that somebody/something is moving or located in
- in a line Just keep going in a straight line.
- The town is in a direct line between London and the coast.
- line of something Be careful to stay out of the line of fire (= the direction somebody is shooting in).
📒 a route from one place to another especially when it is used for a particular purpose
- Their aim was to block guerrilla supply lines.
📒 a row of words on a page or the empty space where they can be written; the words of a song or poem or other piece of writing
- Look at line 5 of the text.
- Write the title of your essay on the top line.
- I can only remember the first two lines of that song.
📒 the words spoken by an actor in a play or film
- to learn your lines
- I keep forgetting my lines.
- The way she delivers the line is hilarious.
📒 a punishment in which a child has to write out a particular sentence a number of times
- The teacher gave me 100 lines.
📒 a remark, especially when somebody says it to achieve a particular purpose
- Don't give me that line about having to work late again.
- (British English) That's the worst chat-up line I've ever heard.
📒 a long piece of rope, string, etc., especially when it is used for a particular purpose
- They dropped the sails and threw a line to a man on the dock.
- on the line Towels were hanging on the line (= clothes line).
- He had a fish on his line.
📒 a pipe or thick wire that carries water, gas or electricity from one place to another
- water/gas/sewage lines
- Telephone lines were brought down in the storm.
- There were two fuel lines coming into the engine.
📒 an imaginary limit or border between one place or thing and another
- a district line
- lines of longitude and latitude
- across a line He was convicted of illegally importing weapons across state lines.
📒 the division between one area of thought or behaviour and another or between one group of people and another
- Mass consumption blurred the lines of class distinction.
- We want to cut across lines of race, sex and religion.
- Music offers a way to cross cultural lines.
📒 an attitude or a belief, especially one that somebody states publicly
- The company line is that discrimination in any form is not tolerated.
- line on something He supported the official line on education.
- The government is taking a firm line on terrorism.
📒 a method or way of doing or thinking about something
- His research follows quite different lines.
- line of something I don't follow your line of reasoning.
- a line of thought/thinking
📒 a series of people, things or events that follow one another in time
- to pass something down through the male/female line
- line of something She came from a long line of doctors.
- This novel is the latest in a long line of thrillers that he has written.
📒 a series of people in order of importance
- line of something a line of command
- There is some benefit to having a clear line of authority.
- down the line (from somebody/something) Orders came down the line from the very top.
📒 the edge, outline or shape of somebody/something
- He traced the line of her jaw with his finger.
- a beautiful sports car with sleek lines
- I prefer simple lines in skirts and trousers.
📒 a system of making something, in which the product moves from one worker to the next until it is finished
📒 a type or area of business, activity or interest
- line of something My line of work pays pretty well.
- What line of business are they in?
- in the… line You can't do much in the art line without training.
📒 a type of product
- Some lines sell better than others.
- new product lines
- line in something We are starting a new line in casual clothes.
📒 a company that provides transport for people or goods
- a shipping/bus line
- the White Star Line
📒 a row or series of military defences where the soldiers are fighting during a war
- They were trapped behind enemy lines (= in the area controlled by the enemy).
📒 an amount of cocaine that is spread out in a thin line, ready to take
📒 connected with the income that a company receives and the costs it has to pay in its daily business, which affect the profit it makes
- All these costs are above the line and directly hit profits.
📒 connected with advertising in the mass media
- They planned an advertising campaign with both above-the-line and social media components.
📒 at some point during an activity or a process
- Somewhere along the line a large amount of money went missing.
- We'll make a decision on that further down the line.
📒 in the way that is mentioned
- The new system will operate along the same lines as the old one.
- They voted along class lines.
📒 similar to the way or thing that is mentioned
- Those aren't his exact words, but he said something along those lines.
- The hotel was built along the lines of a French chateau.
📒 used to say that people or groups have shown which side they intend to support in an argument or contest that is going to begin
📒 to be working or functioning
- The new working methods will come on line in June.
📒 to be in a position where you can be shot at
- attempts to prevent civilians from being in the firing line
📒 to be in a position where people can criticize or blame you
- The employment secretary found himself in the firing line over recent job cuts.
📒 connected with unusual costs or income that a company pays or receives, that are not part of its daily business and are taken away or added after calculating profits
- There was a £4 million extraordinary charge below the line.
📒 connected with advertising by means of direct mail, email, social media, events, etc.
- We are planning social networking, digital marketing and below-the-line activities across the country.
📒 connected with a section at the end of an online article or blog post where readers can put comments
- There were numerous comments below the line.
📒 to behave or make somebody/something behave in the same way as other people or how they should behave
- The other members of the board must be brought into line.
- The actions of investors do not always fall into line with financial theory.
📒 to do something that is not considered to be acceptable behaviour
- He crossed the line by making details of their very private conversation public.
📒 to go to the front of a line of people without waiting for your turn
- Somebody cut in line in front of me.
📒 to say that something is finished and not worth discussing any more
📒 (to reach) the point at which something can no longer continue in the same way
- A defeat in the second round marked the end of the line for last year's champion.
- The loss of this contract could signal the end of the line for the shipyard.
- This latest disagreement could mean the end of the road for the band.
📒 strong control or discipline
- Those children need a firm hand to make them behave.
📒 completely
- What I said was not true, but he fell for it (= believed it) hook, line and sinker.
📒 in a position that forms a straight line with something
- An eclipse happens when the earth and moon are in line with the sun.
📒 likely to get something
- She is in line for promotion.
📒 while doing a job
- A policeman was injured in the line of duty yesterday.
📒 similar to something or so that one thing is closely connected with another
- Annual pay increases will be in line with inflation.
📒 to tell somebody clearly what you think, especially when they will not like what you say
- The manager laid it on the line—some people would have to lose their jobs.
📒 (to establish) a clear limit to what you will do or accept
- It’s time to draw a line in the sand and stop allowing workplace bullying to continue.
📒 (to choose, etc.) the easiest way of doing something
📒 at risk
- If we don't make a profit, my job is on the line.
📒 not forming a straight line
📒 different from something
- London prices are way out of line with the rest of the country.
📒 behaving in a way that is not acceptable or right
📒 to behave in a way that people think is not acceptable
- She realized she had overstepped the mark and quickly apologized.
📒 to tell somebody a story or make an excuse that is not true
📒 to look for or discover a meaning in something that is not openly stated
- Reading between the lines, I think Clare needs money.
📒 to sign a document to show that you have agreed to buy something or do something
- Just sign on the dotted line and the car is yours.
📒 to behave badly or break the rules
- His boss warned him that if he stepped out of line once more he would be fired.
📒 to say or do what somebody in authority tells you to say or do, even if you do not share the same opinions, etc.
- One or two of them refused to toe the line.
- MPs rarely fail to toe the party line.
📒 to be in a difficult or dangerous situation where you could easily make a mistake
- He was walking a fine line between being funny and being rude.
- She often seems to tread a thin line between success and failure.
- His comedy treads the line between shocking and sickening.