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line
/laɪn/
In American English, a "line" often refers to a queue of people waiting (e.g., "waiting in line"). In British English, the word "queue" is more commonly used for this purpose. When used as a verb meaning to form a row, it is almost always followed by the word "up" (phrasal verb: "line up"). In the context of acting or poetry, "lines" is frequently used in the plural form when referring to the dialogue a performer must memorize.
💬Casual Conversation
The line for the flu shots is insane. I'm about to lose it.
JUST HOLD YOUR GROUND DEAR
Meanings
A sequence of words forming a sentence in a poem or play.
"He forgot his first line in the opening scene."
To mark with or provide with a line or border.
"She used a ruler to line the edges of the drawing."
Examples
Just draw a line right here for the boundary.
Ugh, look at this line! We'll be here all day!
I can't remember my next line, help me out!
Wait, did you actually line the pan with foil?
Stop! Don't cross that white line on the road!
I'll just line these boxes up against the wall.
Seriously? You forgot your opening line again?
Please stay behind the yellow line for your safety.
I need to line this jacket with something warmer.
God, the line for coffee is literally out the door!
Collocations & Compounds
straight line
A mark that does not curve or bend.
long line
A large number of people waiting in a queue.
line of poetry
A single row of words in a poem.
finish line
The line marking the end of a race.
line the walls
To cover or border the interior surfaces of a room.
Phrasal Verbs
line up
To form or stand in a row or queue.
Idioms & Sayings
read between the lines
To find a hidden meaning in something that is not explicitly stated.
toe the line
To conform to the rules or standards of a particular group.
draw the line
To set a limit on what is acceptable or permissible.
hold the line
To maintain a position or resist pressure to change a decision.
end of the line
The final stage of a process or the point where something can go no further.
Cultural Context
In the annals of military history, few phrases carry as much weight and romanticism as "the thin red line." This evocative image originates from the Battle of Balaclava during the Crimean War in 1854. It describes a moment where a small group of soldiers from the 93rd Highland Regiment stood their ground in a two-deep line to repel a massive Russian cavalry charge. To the observers, they appeared as a fragile, singular crimson streak against the landscape—a thin red line that refused to break.
The psychological power of the "line" in this context is profound. In military tactics of the era, the transition from a column (a deep, moving mass) into a line was a moment of extreme vulnerability and immense bravery. By forming a line, soldiers maximized their firepower but exposed themselves fully to the enemy. The thin red line became a symbol of disciplined defiance; it represented the boundary between order and chaos, and between survival and annihilation.
Over time, this specific historical event evolved into a broader cultural metaphor. We now use "the thin red line" (and its various color iterations like the "thin blue line") to describe a precarious barrier—a small, dedicated group of people who stand as the only thing preventing society from sliding into disaster.
What makes this fascinatng is how a simple geometric arrangement of human bodies—a literal line of men—transformed into a global symbol of resilience. It captures the human obsession with boundaries and thresholds. Whether it is a physical line on a battlefield or a metaphorical line in morality, we are captivated by the moment someone decides where they will stand and refuses to move. The thin red line isn't just about infantry tactics; it is a study in the collective will of humans to hold a position against impossible odds.