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line · noun C /lɑɪn/Full view
line (LONG MARK)
A2 a long, thin mark
Dictionary examples:

a straight line

Sign your name on the dotted line.

Learner example:

We have to bring with us only [a] pencil. Because [the] first day we will draw lines. (Key English Test; A2; Turkish)

line (PEOPLE WAITING)
B1 a group of people standing one behind the other who are waiting for something
Dictionary examples:

Are you in line?

There was a long line at the movie theater.

Just get in/on line and wait your turn like everyone else.

I had to wait/stand in line for three hours to get tickets.

Learner example:

The next day, he was in the airport waiting in line to check in his luggage. (Preliminary English Test; B1; Spanish)

line (WORDS)
B1 a row of words on a page
Dictionary examples:

The same line is repeated throughout the poem.

Can you read the next line, please, Sonia?

Learner example:

In no more than ten lines, my mother explained that she was moving to Brazilia, the capital of our country, and that she would take me and my brother with her. (Preliminary English Test; B1; Portuguese)

line (RAILROAD)
B1 a train route or railroad track
Dictionary examples:

rail/commuter lines

Wet leaves on the track delayed trains on both lines this morning.

the Hudson Line/the Raritan Valley Line

Learner example:

You go up along the Yourou river [on] the Kominato line and you can find some beautiful place[s]. (First Certificate in English; B2; Japanese)

line (TELEPHONE)
B2 the connection between telephones
Dictionary examples:

That line is busy – may I take a message?

I've got Chris Foster on the line for you.

Please hold the line. I'll see if she's available.

Learner example:

Bedrooms were quite spacious with a lot of light as well as a TV set and a direct phone line. (First Certificate in English; B2; French)

line (PRODUCT)
C1 a type of product that a company sells
Dictionary examples:

Our new sportswear line will be in stores shortly.

They're advertising a new line of garden furniture.

Learner example:

If, on [the] one hand, the changing market is forcing us to [remove] some product lines, on the other [it] is giving us new opportunities, as is the case for handhelds. (Certificate in Advanced English; C1; Italian)

a fine line
C1 a very small difference between two things that seem very different
Dictionary example:

There's a fine line between courage and foolishness.

Learner example:

It took me 6 months to reali[z]e that there is a fine line between telling off and psychological abuse. (Certificate in Advanced English; C1; Czech)

line (ROW)
C2 a row of people or things
Dictionary example:

a line of trees

Learner example:

Its facade was cut by a line of French windows and there was a large number of people in front of the front door. (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; Portuguese)

line (BORDER)
C2 the border of an area within a country
Dictionary example:

the city/state/county line

line (EDGE)
C2 a long mark on an area where a sport is played that shows an edge or measurement
Dictionary examples:

the foul line

the 50-yard line

line (APPROACH)
C2 a way of dealing with or thinking about something or someone
Dictionary examples:

I couldn’t follow his line of reasoning.

Some members of Congress disagree with their party's line on tax cuts.

The police are confident that this new line of investigation will lead them to the murderer.

Learner example:

My personal take on this line of thought is that this is a practical and beneficial albeit shallow way to view reading books, re[duc]ing reading to a simple pastime. (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; Greek)

line (MILITARY)
C2 a row of positions used to defend against enemy attack, especially the ones closest to enemy positions
Dictionary example:

They were taken prisoner while on a reconnaissance mission behind enemy lines.

Learner example:

She was never afraid of going to the front line [in] battle. (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; Portuguese)

(be) on the line
C2 If someone's job, reputation, life, etc., is on the line, they may lose it.
Dictionary example:

If we don't win the contract, all our jobs are on the line.

Learner example:

The person who hopes to achieve success shouldn't be afraid of taking risks and sometimes putting his or her career on the line for the sake of gaining much bigger benefits. (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; Polish)

the bottom line
C2 the most important fact of final result in an activity, discussion, or situation
Dictionary example:

The bottom line is that they lost the game.

Learner example:

The bottom line is that the adults of today have to stop for a second and think about what they are doing. (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; Russian)

along the lines of sth
C2 based on and similar to something
Dictionary example:

He gave a talk along the lines of the one he gave in Oxford.

Learner example:

Imagine one is encouraged by friends and institutions for their 'different' artistic or other activities, even if their works are not along the lines of 'acceptable' norms and tradition. (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; Turkish)

be in line with sth
C2 to be similar to and suitable for something
Dictionary example:

They were offered a pay increase in line with inflation.

Learner example:

The other two courses, at 5%, are still in line with the national average. (International English Language Testing System; C2; Afrikaans)

down the line
C2 in the future
Dictionary example:

Lots of things will have changed a few years down the road.

Learner example:

For that very reason it seemed natural for Laura and John to take her in, and further down the line they would adopt her. (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; Danish)

draw the line (at sth)
C2 If someone says they know where to draw the line, they are talking about knowing at what point an activity or situation becomes unacceptable because it is wrong or too extreme
Dictionary example:

I’ll do what I can to help a friend, but I draw the line when someone asks me to lie for them.

Learner example:

For these parents, drawing the line at certain behaviors became a s[y]nonym for lack of democracy, and a source of struggle at home. (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; Portuguese)

(be) out of line
C2 If someone's actions or words are out of line, they are beyond what is considered acceptable in that situation.
Dictionary example:

You can disagree with her, but calling her dishonest was way out of line.

Learner example:

Today I see that my mother was right in this aspect since I acted extremely out of line sometimes and a soft hand certainly wouldn't help me in the future. (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; Portuguese)

read between the lines
C2 If you read between the lines, you understand what something really means when it hasn't been directly said or written.
Dictionary example:

Reading between the lines, it was obvious that something was wrong.

Learner example:

All songs send positive thoughts and messages to listeners, although sometimes you really have to read between the lines to understand this profound message. (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; Greek)

line · verb T /lɑɪn/
line
C2 to form a row along the side of something
Dictionary example:

Trees and cafes lined the street.

Learner example:

Under the arch formed by the top branches of the trees which lined both sides of the street, she was so much absorbed in her thought that she did not hear the sound of approaching steps. (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; Portuguese)

line (sb/sth) up or line up (sb/sth)
B2 to arrange people or things in a row or to stand in a row
Dictionary examples:

A fight broke out behind me as we lined up to receive our food rations.

The soldiers lined us up against a wall and I thought they were going to shoot us.

Learner example:

A lot of customers had lined up after me. (First Certificate in English; B2; Japanese)

line sb/sth up
C1 to plan for something to happen
Dictionary example:

What future projects have you lined up?

Learner example:

Nonetheless, we are also eager to help out in other projects that you have lined up. (International English Language Testing System; C1; Chinese)

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