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Dictionary

Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

on the line en · ADP

Pronunciation

Meanings

  1. On a level with the eye of the observer, as of a picture hung in on a wall.
  2. (figuratively) At risk, as in a contest or enterprise.
    • 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. 2019 January 26, Kitty Empire, “The Streets review – the agony and ecstasy of a great everyman”, in The Guardian:
    • War or peace? Dictatorship or democracy? Europe’s future is on the line [title] 2023 December 13, Timothy Garton Ash, “War or peace? Dictatorship or democracy? Europe’s future is on the line”, in The Guardian, →ISSN:
    • I have a stalker. My life is on the line! 2007 January 21, Valerie Ahern, Christian McLaughlin, “Come Play wiz Me”, in Desperate Housewives, season 3, spoken by Gabrielle Solis (Eva Longoria):
    • The survival of the company is on the line with this project.
  3. Currently calling on the telephone.
    • I have John on the line for you.
  4. 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.

Deriveds

ass on the line · lay on the line

Synonyms

on the rocks · at stake

Translations (16)

de auf Messers Schneide (at risk) · de auf der Kippe (at risk) · de auf der Linie (sports:on a line marked on field or court) · sv på spel (at risk) · de auf dem Spiel (at risk) · es en juego (at risk) · fi linjalla (on the telephone) · fi linjalla (sports:on a line marked on field or court) · ru на кону (at risk) · fi viivalla (sports:on a line marked on field or court) · ru на проводе (on the telephone) · fr en jeu (at risk) · fi langan päässä (on the telephone) · de an der Strippe (on the telephone) · de in der Leitung (on the telephone) · fr en ligne (on the telephone)