put one's ass on the line

English

Pronunciation

• Audio (AU)

  (file)

Verb

put one's ass on the line (third-person singular simple present puts one's ass on the line, present participle putting one's ass on the line, simple past and past participle put one's ass on the line)

1. (idiomatic, vulgar) To take a big risk.
   • 1990, Predator 2:

     I put my ass on the line to get you here, and all I expect is a little cooperation!

   • 2002, Mitchell Geoffrey Bard, From Tragedy to Triumph: The politics behind the rescue of Ethiopian Jewry:

     They thought everyone was afraid. Only they would risk their lives. Once people saw that we put our asses on the line, everything changed...

   • 2005, Frederick K. Van Patten, Reluctant Seeker‎^[1]:

     He put his ass on the line for his country and his family during the Second World War, but nobody seems to care about that anymore.