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0
a long, thin mark on the surface of something:
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a straight line
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Sign your name on the dotted line.
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She was very old and her face was covered with lines.
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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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1
a group of people or things arranged in a row:
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a line of trees
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The prisoners formed a line against the wall.
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Just get in line and wait your turn like everyone else.
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I had to wait/stand in line for three hours to get tickets.
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She is the latest in a long line of controversial leaders.
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He comes from a long line of doctors (= a lot of his relatives were doctors before him).
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2
a long, thin and sometimes imaginary mark that forms the edge, border, or limit of something:
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That ball was definitely in! It was nowhere near the line!
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The police couldn't arrest him because he'd fled across the state line.
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For many television viewers the dividing line between fact and fiction is becoming increasingly blurred.
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3
a connection to a phone system:
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I'm afraid your line's been disconnected because your last bill hasn't been paid.
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If you want to air your opinions live on the radio, the lines will be open (= you can phone) from eight o'clock.
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I've got Chris Foster on the line for you. Do you want to take it now or call her back later?
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formal Please hold the line (= wait). I'll see if she's available.
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4
(the route followed by) a railway track:
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The train was delayed, apparently due to leaves on the line.
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The Northern Line is the worst on the London Underground.
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Mainline services can be very quick, but travelling on the branch lines is much slower.
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5
a way of dealing with or thinking about something or someone:
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The government's official line has always been to refuse to negotiate with terrorists.
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The courts should take a tougher line with (= punish more severely) sex offenders.
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Several Labour MPs disagree with their party's line on taxation.
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What sort of line (= method of arguing) do you think we should take in the pay negotiations?
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The police are confident that this new line of inquiry will lead them to the murderer.
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It seems inevitable that the country will be divided along ethnic lines.
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We cannot agree with their line of reasoning.
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6
a row of positions used to defend against enemy attack, especially the ones closest to enemy positions:
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They were taken prisoner while on a reconnaissance mission behind enemy lines.
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figurative In a game of football, the goalkeeper is the last line of defence.
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7
the shape of something that has been designed or created:
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8
a long, strong, thin piece of material, such as string, rope, or wire, used to support something:
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I'd hung the washing out on the clothes line.
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Can you feel the fish tugging on the line?
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9
a company that transports people or goods:
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10
a remark that is intended to entertain, persuade, or deceive:
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a speech full of memorable lines
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He keeps giving me that line about not being able to do any work because his computer is down.
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Who was it who came up with that famous line about "lies, damned lies and statistics?"
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11
a row of words that form part of a text:
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We could get more lines on the page if we reduced the type size.
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The computer screen displays 80 characters per line.
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I only had two lines in the whole play.
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She hasn't learned her lines yet, and we've got our first rehearsal tomorrow.
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I'm terrified of forgetting my lines.
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She got 200 lines for swearing at her teacher.
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12
a short series of musical notes
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13
the type of job someone does:
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"What line of work are you in?" "I'm a teacher."
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You meet some very interesting people in my line of business.
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a range of similar things that are for sale:
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There are discounts on many items from our older lines.
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I was shown all their new lines.
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15
to form a row along the side of something:
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to cover the inside surface of something:
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I lined the drawers with old wallpaper.
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How much would it cost to have this jacket lined?
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Full-length mirrors lined each wall of the bathroom.
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a long, thin mark on the surface of something:
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Draw a straight line.
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You shouldn’t drive across the double yellow lines.
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As I grow older, lines and wrinkles show on my face.
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18
a real or imaginary mark that forms the edge, border, or limit of something:
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The police caught him before he crossed the state line.
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the foul line
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the 50-yard line
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the free-throw line
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a length of string, rope, or wire that is used to support something:
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fishing line
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Would you help me hang the wash out on the line?
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a row of people or things:
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There was a long line at the movie theater.
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Just get in/on line and wait your turn.
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the offensive/defensive line
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21
a series of people, esp. members of the same family, following one another in time:
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He comes from a long line of doctors.
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a row of military positions, particularly the ones closest to enemy positions:
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the front line
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behind enemy lines
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23
an electrical or telephone wire or connection:
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Power lines were down after the storm.
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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:
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Limericks are humorous five-line poems.
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Drop me a line when you get a chance.
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He gave me some line about how his father is the mayor.
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28
a direction or path:
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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:
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I couldn’t follow his line of reasoning.
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a job, interest, or activity:
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"What line of work are you in?" "I’m a teacher."
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a type of goods:
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Our new swimwear line will be in stores shortly.
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32
to cover the inside surface of an object with another material:
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a range of similar products:
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There are discounts on many items from our older lines.
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As with other books in this publisher's line, this one is written for a popular audience.
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I showed them all our new product lines.
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line of sth The company's spring line of handbags is wonderful.
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lines of bonds/stocks/shares The state is selling three lines of bonds.
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34
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:
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The first year they had me on the line putting wheels on Cadillacs.
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assembly/processing/production line Eight additional production lines were installed in the town's only factory.
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a line foreman/supervisor
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35
a connection to a telephone or data system:
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I'm afraid your phone line has been disconnected.
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The company's first fibre-optic lines were installed in 1998.
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Keep the lines open in case the boss calls with a final decision.
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on the line Mike Saunders is on the line for you.
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36
a connection to a public service for water, liquid waste, or electricity:
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Power transmission lines were out for three weeks after the hurricane.
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Interference from the electric lines caused the equipment to malfunction.
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Construction workers installed a water line where Walnut Avenue and First Street intersect.
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37
a series of people that follow each other in time:
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He comes from a long line of entrepreneurs.
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a series of people in order of importance:
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the first/second, etc. in line He is second in line to take over the company.
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39
someone's job, industry, or area of activity:
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"What line of work are you in?" "I'm a professor."
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You meet some very interesting people in my line of business.
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40
a way of getting money:
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line of credit/revenue Your bank can raise your line of credit if you have a good payment history.
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41
a group of people or things arranged in a row:
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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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42
a company that transports people or goods:
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a railway/shipping line The shipping line carried fewer containers last year
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43
to make something the same as or similar to something else:
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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.:
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We are considering legal action if they do not come into line soon.
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45
likely to receive criticism or to lose a job:
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Next in the environment firing line are the CEOs of the world's biggest chemical companies.
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Jack put himself in the line of fire by talking to the press about our problems.
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46
to make someone agree to your way of doing something:
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If we have to change supervisors to get everybody in line, we will.
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You better get your people in line, or you'll lose the battle for market share.
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47
to keep a someone waiting on the telephone:
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Will you hold the line while I check my calendar?
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She must hold the line against this kind of criticism.
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The aim of the current administration is to hold the line on taxes.
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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:
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American banks are first in line for the small, low-risk deals.
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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:
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The water company is in line to make a 7% efficiency cost-saving on the project.
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50
similar to something or at the same level as something:
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The company's results are in line withstock market expectations.
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We are seeking a pay rise that's in line with inflation.
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51
if something is on the line, it could easily be lost or destroyed:
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When it's your personal credibility on the line, it's best to stop making crude jokes in meetings.
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He put his career on the line when he went public about his employer's lies.
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52
to behave according to an official rule, especially when you do not agree with it:
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The new guy is better salesman and will toe the marketing department's line much more closely.
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53
to make someone richer, especially in illegal or dishonest ways:
