on the line

English

Etymology

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

Pronunciation

• Audio (AU)

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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. (figurative) At risk, as in a contest or enterprise.

   Synonyms: at stake, on the rocks

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

   • 2007 January 21, Valerie Ahern, 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^[1]:

     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.

   • 2023 December 13, Timothy Garton Ash, “War or peace? Dictatorship or democracy? Europe’s future is on the line”, in The Guardian‎^[2], →ISSN:

     War or peace? Dictatorship or democracy? Europe’s future is on the line [title]

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.

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”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.