on the line

on the line

English

Etymology

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Pronunciation

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Prepositional phrase

on the line

1. On a level with the eye of the observer, as of a picture hung in on a wall.
2. (idiomatic) At risk, as in a contest or enterprise.

   The survival of the company is on the line with this project.

   • 2007 January 21, Valerie Ahern and Christian McLaughlin, “Come Play wiz Me”, in Desperate Housewives, season 3, spoken by Gabrielle Solis (Eva Longoria):

     I have a stalker. My life is on the line!

   • 2019 January 26, Kitty Empire, “The Streets review – the agony and ecstasy of a great everyman”, in The Guardian‎:

     The 40-year-old is happy to put his body on the line in other ways, swapping a mug of tea for a fan’s double pint of lager and messily necking it in one.

3. Currently calling on the telephone.

   I have John on the line for you.

4. (sports) On one of the lines marked on a playing field or court; (by extension) within bounds.

   The ball was on the line but the umpire ruled it out.

Synonyms

• (at risk): at stake, on the rocks

Derived terms

• ass on the line
• lay on the line

Translations

at risk

French: en jeu (fr) German: auf dem Spiel, auf der Kippe, auf Messers Schneide Russian: на кону (ru) (na konu) Spanish: en juego Swedish: på spel (sv)

on the telephone

Finnish: linjalla, langan päässä French: en ligne (fr) German: in der Leitung, an der Strippe (coll. / dated) Russian: на проводе (na provode)

sports:on a line marked on field or court

Finnish: viivalla, linjalla German: auf der Linie

References

• on the line at OneLook Dictionary Search