phr. above the line 1. 【商】(钱)花在经常开支上
2. 【牌】(记)在横线上方(双局桥牌记分术语，指把所得奖分及对方罚分记在记分单的中央横线以上，以区别于记在横线以下的涉及局况的分数)
a line in the sand 不可逾越的界线；极限
all along (或 down) the line 〈口〉在全线；全部地；到处
The attack was successful all along the line. 进攻获得全线成功。
His facts were correct all along the line. 他掌握的事实完全正确。
He had trouble all along the line because nobody spoke English. 他到处碰到麻烦因为没有人会讲英语。
blow one's lines 〈美口〉忘记台词；念错台词
The noise backstage scared Peter and he blew his lines. 后台的嘈杂声使彼得惊慌，他连台词都给忘了。
bring into line 1. 使排成行，使排齐
The riders brought their mounts into line. 骑手们使坐骑排成一行。
2. 使一致，使符合
People's tastes do differ. Don't try to bring everybody into line. 人的爱好各异。不要强求一致。
bring a theory into line with the facts 使理论符合实际
3. 使符合原则，使规范
do whatever necessary to bring juvenile delinquents into line 竭尽所能使少年犯走上正道
by rule and line 见 rule
choose the line of least resistance 采取阻力最小的办法，避难就易
come down to the line (赛跑等)激烈竞争到最后
come into line 1. 排成行，排齐
2. 取得一致，符合
With the two vital voices in favour, the rest of the committee quickly came into line. 委员会的两位重要人物表示赞成，其他委员随即都同意了。
The Opposition came into line with the government on the question. 反对党在这一问题上与政府取得了一致。
The leaders of any political party want all the members to come into line. 任何政党的领导人都希望全体党员保持一致。
do a line with 〈澳新〉(试图)与…谈恋爱
down line 【铁】下行线；沿下行线
down the line 〈口〉
1. 沿街(或路)一直向前
The post office is down theline a few blocks. 往前一直走过几条街便是邮局。
2. 全部地，彻底地
He always follows the teacher's directions right down the line. 他一向完全听从老师的指导。
draw a (或 the) line 1. 划界线，区别
Sometimes it's difficult to draw a line between backbiting and malicious gossip. 背后中伤和歹毒的流言蜚语，有时很难区别。
2. 划定最后界线；限制；反对(at)
Her father draws the line at her coming in after midnight. 她父亲不许她在半夜以后进门。
He drew the line at rock music. 他不赞成摇滚乐。
fall into line = come into line
follow the line of least resistance= choose the line of least resistance
get into line= bring into line
give sb. line enough对某人欲擒故纵；对某人放长线钓大鱼
go down the line 全心全意支持
go up in one's lines= blow one's lines
hold the line1. 不挂断电话，保持线路通畅
2. 【橄】阻止对方球员带球前进
3. 坚守阵地；维持正常，保持不变
The government tried to hold the line against inflation. 政府设法继续遏制通货膨胀。
The cost-of-living index held the line last month. 上月物价指数维持原状。
hook, line and sinker 见 hook
in line 1. 成一直线，成一排
set the shelves in line along the wall 把架子沿墙排成行
2. 一致的，相符的；符合常规的，在正常限度内的
Our thoughts on this subject are pretty much in line. 我们对这一问题的想法相当一致。
The coach kept the excited team in line. 教练使情绪激动的队员们不越轨。
keep prices in line 控制物价
3. 挨次，顺次
next in line 下一个
He is fourth in line to be admitted to the society. 他将是被接纳入会的第四个。
in line for 1. 竞争…的，很有可能获得…的；将轮到…的
be in line for a wages increase 有希望加到工资
He is in line for the presidency of the club next year. 他明年就要轮到担任俱乐部主席了。
2. 准备好…的
in line for action 准备投入行动的
in line with 与…一致的(地)，符合…的(地)
This plan is in line with my ideas. 这个计划符合我的想法。
This rate is set in line with other interest rates. 这一利率与其它的利率保持一致。
in sb.'s line 1. 属某人的行当；在某人的兴趣范围内
2. 与某人有(利害)关系
lay on the line 1. 出(钱)，付(钱)
The bank is laying ten thousand dollars on the line as a reward to whoever catches the robber. 银行悬赏1万美元捉拿该劫匪。
2. 无保留地拿出，全盘托出
Next time a full-scale hearing will be laid on the line. 下次将披露一次全面的听证会情况。
3. 坦率地说
The minister will have to lay on the line the full implications of his foreign policies. 部长必须公开阐明其对外政策的全部含义。
4. 冒(前途、名誉等)受损害的风险
line abreast 【军】横队，横列队形
line ahead(或 astern) (一路)纵队
line out 1. 【棒】(击球员因击出的平直球被接住而)出局
2. 画出…的线条(或轮廓)
line out a picture 为一幅画打轮廓
3. (让他人跟读或跟唱时)领读，领唱；奏，唱
He lined out a few songs upon request. 他应要求唱了几支歌。
4. 【植】成行地种植，列植
line up 1. (使)排成行，(使)整队；排队
She lined the boxes up. 她把盒子排列成行。
The teacher lined the pupils up according to height. 老师把学生们按个儿高矮排好队。
Fans began lining up early in the morning to buy their cup-tie tickets. 球迷们一清早就开始排队买优胜杯的决赛票。
2. 〈口〉邀集；组织
They've lined up some excellent entertainers for our show. 他们邀来了几名出色的艺人参加我们的演出会。
They have lined up a lot of support for their candidate. 他们为自己的候选人争取到很多支持。
line up alongside (或 with) 与…站在一起，与…联合
He's lining up alongside the minority in his party. 他与党内的少数派站在一起。
line up behind (使)追随
off line〈口〉不在工作(或运行)
on a line (with) (同…)平行着
The walk is on a line with the road. 步行道和大路是平行的。
on line 1. 〈美〉排在队列中(等候)
We stood on line for an hour. 我们站在队伍里等候了1小时。
2. 〈口〉在工作中；在运行中
He has been back on line after his illness. 他生病后已经回来工作了。
bring a nuclear power plant on line 使核电站投产
The textile mill will soon come on line. 这家纺织厂不久将投产。
on the line 1. 〈美口〉马上，立刻
pay cash on the line 马上付现钱
2. (展出的画的中央)同视平线相齐
paintings hung on the line 挂得与视平线相齐的画
3. 在中间，骑墙
Politically, he is on the line, choosing to avoid both the right and the left. 他在政治上是骑墙的，既不左，也不右。
4. 岌岌可危
on the lines of 非常相像，酷似
on the right lines 正确的，对头的
out of line 1. 不成一直线；不在队列中
drop out of line 掉队
2. 不一致，不符合
His ideas are out of line with reality. 他的想法不切实际。
3. 〈口〉出格，举止不当
They were severely punished for stepping out of line. 他们因行动出格受到严厉惩罚。
Please excuse me if I'm being out of line. 我如有失礼之处请多包涵。
He was out of line for criticizing his wife publicly. 他当众指责妻子，真是不近情理。
out of sb.'s line 1. 不属某人的行当；不在某人兴趣范围内
2. 与某人无关系
put on the line= lay on the line
reach the end of the line已到穷途末路；(关系等)已破裂
read between the lines 从字里行间(或言词、行动中)体会隐含之意，领会言外之意
Some kinds of poetry make you read between the lines. 有些诗要你从字里行间去体会其含意。
shoot a line 〈口〉吹牛，说大话
He's only shooting a line. Don't believe him. 他只不过吹牛罢了，你别信他的。
stand in line 〈美〉排队
take a firm (或 hard, strong, tough) line 采取强硬政策(或措施)
take a strong line over inflation 采取坚决措施对付通货膨胀
take the line of least resistance= choose the line of least resistance
toe the line1. (赛跑等开始前)足尖抵在起步线上
The runners toed the line ready to start. 赛跑运动员脚尖抵着起跑线准备起跑。
2. 服从，听从
The father is strict with his children and they have to toe the line.父亲对孩子们很严格，他们必须言听计从。
He'll never toe the line of apartheid. 他决不屈从于种族隔离政策。
up line 【铁】上行线；沿上行线
up the line 向前线