on the line
Being wagered now
On the line means at stake or at risk: My reputation is on the line here, He put his career on the line to defend her.
The image is of something placed where it could be lost—perhaps from gambling, where stakes were placed on a literal line.
In sports, a shot on the line lands exactly on the boundary.
To be on the line can also mean waiting on a phone connection: I have the doctor on the line.
- stakeSharpened post or share
- high stakesSignificant potential for loss
- gambleStake on uncertain outcome
- perilSerious threat of harm
- life and deathMatters of survival
engaged · danger · accountable · implicated · risk · chopping block · jeopardy · hook · threat · ultimatum · telephone · responsible · choice · crisis · committed · hazard · exposure · tipping point
- fishing idiomsfish out of water, fishing for compliments, fish or cut bait, bigger fish to fry, cast a wide net
- risk phrasestake a chance, take a gamble, risk it all, go for broke, go all in
- finish line expressionsphoto finish, home stretch, final stretch, final lap, sprint finish
- device statusactive, available, away, busy, connected
on the linesafe
Free from peril
secure · protected · out of danger · in the clear · safe and sound
on the lineplaying it safe
Avoiding unnecessary risk
holding back · sitting out · on the sidelines · noncommittal · uninvested
on the linesettled
No longer in question
decided · resolved · determined · in the bag · locked in
line, the, online, lined, outline, lining, lineage, underline, linear