draw the line

English

Pronunciation

• Audio (General Australian):

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Verb

draw the line (third-person singular simple present draws the line, present participle drawing the line, simple past drew the line, past participle drawn the line)

1. (idiomatic) To set a boundary, rule, or limit, especially on what one will tolerate.

   I don't mind if they have some fun, but I draw the line at anything that might harm others.

   • 1991 December 11, Tom Redburn, “Labor Standards: Where Britain Drew the Line”, in The International Herald Tribune‎^[1], →ISSN:

     By contrast, the British government draws the line at giving the Community a significant new role in setting minimum standards on working conditions, labor representation on corporate boards, and social affairs.

Derived terms

• line drawing (second sense)

Translations

to set a boundary

• Danish: sætte grænsen
• Finnish: vetää raja
• German: eine Grenze setzen, Stopp sagen

See also

• cross the line
• draw a line in the sand
• draw a line under
• red line