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a long, thin mark on the surface of something:
a straight line
Sign your name on the dotted line.
She was very old and her face was covered with lines.
My legs felt all wobbly when I stood up and I couldn't walk in a straight line (= walk without moving to the side while moving forward).
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a group of people or things arranged in a row:
a line of trees
The prisoners formed a line against the wall.
Just get in line and wait your turn like everyone else.
I had to wait/stand in line for three hours to get tickets.
She is the latest in a long line of controversial leaders.
He comes from a long line of doctors (= a lot of his relatives were doctors before him).
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a long, thin and sometimes imaginary mark that forms the edge, border, or limit of something:
That ball was definitely in! It was nowhere near the line!
The police couldn't arrest him because he'd fled across the state line.
For many television viewers the dividing line between fact and fiction is becoming increasingly blurred.
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a connection to a phone system:
I'm afraid your line's been disconnected because your last bill hasn't been paid.
If you want to air your opinions live on the radio, the lines will be open (= you can phone) from eight o'clock.
I've got Chris Foster on the line for you. Do you want to take it now or call her back later?
formal Please hold the line (= wait). I'll see if she's available.
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(the route followed by) a railway track:
The train was delayed, apparently due to leaves on the line.
The Northern Line is the worst on the London Underground.
Mainline services can be very quick, but travelling on the branch lines is much slower.
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a way of dealing with or thinking about something or someone:
The government's official line has always been to refuse to negotiate with terrorists.
The courts should take a tougher line with (= punish more severely) sex offenders.
Several Labour MPs disagree with their party's line on taxation.
What sort of line (= method of arguing) do you think we should take in the pay negotiations?
The police are confident that this new line of inquiry will lead them to the murderer.
It seems inevitable that the country will be divided along ethnic lines.
We cannot agree with their line of reasoning.
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a row of positions used to defend against enemy attack, especially the ones closest to enemy positions:
They were taken prisoner while on a reconnaissance mission behind enemy lines.
figurative In a game of football, the goalkeeper is the last line of defence.
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the shape of something that has been designed or created:
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a long, strong, thin piece of material, such as string, rope, or wire, used to support something:
I'd hung the washing out on the clothes line.
Can you feel the fish tugging on the line?
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a company that transports people or goods:
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a remark that is intended to entertain, persuade, or deceive:
a speech full of memorable lines
He keeps giving me that line about not being able to do any work because his computer is down.
Who was it who came up with that famous line about "lies, damned lies and statistics?"
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a row of words that form part of a text:
We could get more lines on the page if we reduced the type size.
The computer screen displays 80 characters per line.
I only had two lines in the whole play.
She hasn't learned her lines yet, and we've got our first rehearsal tomorrow.
I'm terrified of forgetting my lines.
She got 200 lines for swearing at her teacher.
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a short series of musical notes
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the type of job someone does:
"What line of work are you in?" "I'm a teacher."
You meet some very interesting people in my line of business.
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a range of similar things that are for sale:
There are discounts on many items from our older lines.
I was shown all their new lines.
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to form a row along the side of something:
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to cover the inside surface of something:
I lined the drawers with old wallpaper.
How much would it cost to have this jacket lined?
Full-length mirrors lined each wall of the bathroom.
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a long, thin mark on the surface of something:
Draw a straight line.
You shouldn’t drive across the double yellow lines.
As I grow older, lines and wrinkles show on my face.
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a real or imaginary mark that forms the edge, border, or limit of something:
The police caught him before he crossed the state line.
the foul line
the 50-yard line
the free-throw line
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a length of string, rope, or wire that is used to support something:
fishing line
Would you help me hang the wash out on the line?
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a row of people or things:
There was a long line at the movie theater.
Just get in/on line and wait your turn.
the offensive/defensive line
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a series of people, esp. members of the same family, following one another in time:
He comes from a long line of doctors.
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a row of military positions, particularly the ones closest to enemy positions:
the front line
behind enemy lines
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an electrical or telephone wire or connection:
Power lines were down after the storm.
That line is busy – may I take a message?
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a system of pipes:
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a train route, or a railroad track:
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a company that has an organized system of transport by ship, truck, aircraft, or bus:
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a row of words that form part of a text:
Limericks are humorous five-line poems.
Drop me a line when you get a chance.
He gave me some line about how his father is the mayor.
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a direction or path:
Fortunately, the pedestrian wasn’t in the line of fire.
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a way of dealing with or thinking about something or someone:
I couldn’t follow his line of reasoning.
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a job, interest, or activity:
"What line of work are you in?" "I’m a teacher."
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a type of goods:
Our new swimwear line will be in stores shortly.
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to cover the inside surface of an object with another material:
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a range of similar products:
There are discounts on many items from our older lines.
As with other books in this publisher's line, this one is written for a popular audience.
I showed them all our new product lines.
line of sth The company's spring line of handbags is wonderful.
lines of bonds/stocks/shares The state is selling three lines of bonds.
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a system of making goods in which a worker repeatedly does the same tasks on every item and then passes it to the next worker:
The first year they had me on the line putting wheels on Cadillacs.
assembly/processing/production line Eight additional production lines were installed in the town's only factory.
a line foreman/supervisor
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a connection to a telephone or data system:
I'm afraid your phone line has been disconnected.
The company's first fibre-optic lines were installed in 1998.
Keep the lines open in case the boss calls with a final decision.
on the line Mike Saunders is on the line for you.
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a connection to a public service for water, liquid waste, or electricity:
Power transmission lines were out for three weeks after the hurricane.
Interference from the electric lines caused the equipment to malfunction.
Construction workers installed a water line where Walnut Avenue and First Street intersect.
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a series of people that follow each other in time:
He comes from a long line of entrepreneurs.
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a series of people in order of importance:
the first/second, etc. in line He is second in line to take over the company.
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someone's job, industry, or area of activity:
"What line of work are you in?" "I'm a professor."
You meet some very interesting people in my line of business.
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a way of getting money:
line of credit/revenue Your bank can raise your line of credit if you have a good payment history.
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a group of people or things arranged in a row:
march/stand/wait in line If you don't like standing in line, do your part to make sure you're an efficient customer.
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a company that transports people or goods:
a railway/shipping line The shipping line carried fewer containers last year
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to make something the same as or similar to something else:
He'd like to bring the pay of an Army private into line with that of a police constable.
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to start to officially agree with a plan or idea or to do something in the same way as other people, organizations, companies, etc.:
We are considering legal action if they do not come into line soon.
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likely to receive criticism or to lose a job:
Next in the environment firing line are the CEOs of the world's biggest chemical companies.
Jack put himself in the line of fire by talking to the press about our problems.
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to make someone agree to your way of doing something:
If we have to change supervisors to get everybody in line, we will.
You better get your people in line, or you'll lose the battle for market share.
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to keep a someone waiting on the telephone:
Will you hold the line while I check my calendar?
She must hold the line against this kind of criticism.
The aim of the current administration is to hold the line on taxes.
The chancellor has agreed to hold the line on tuition costs for in-state students next year.
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likely to get something:
American banks are first in line for the small, low-risk deals.
Mortgage brokers could be next in line for a ban on commissions.
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to have a very good chance of doing something:
The water company is in line to make a 7% efficiency cost-saving on the project.
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similar to something or at the same level as something:
The company's results are in line withstock market expectations.
We are seeking a pay rise that's in line with inflation.
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if something is on the line, it could easily be lost or destroyed:
When it's your personal credibility on the line, it's best to stop making crude jokes in meetings.
He put his career on the line when he went public about his employer's lies.
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to behave according to an official rule, especially when you do not agree with it:
The new guy is better salesman and will toe the marketing department's line much more closely.
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to make someone richer, especially in illegal or dishonest ways:
