on the line

English

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

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

   I have a stalker. My life is on the line! - Gabrielle, from Desperate Housewives season 3 episode 13

   • 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.

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 and, hence, in bounds.

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

Synonyms

• (at risk): at stake, on the rocks

Translations

at risk

• French: en jeu (fr)
• German: auf dem Spiel, auf der Kippe
• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}
• Russian: на кону (na konu)
• Spanish: en juego

on the telephone

• Finnish: linjalla
• French: en ligne (fr)
• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}
• Russian: на проводе (na provode)

sports:on a line marked on field or court

• Finnish: viivalla, linjalla
• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}

Derived terms

• ass on the line
• lay on the line