Collocations for line - noun
1. long thin mark on the surface of sth
ADJ.
long | short | thick | fine, thin | direct, straight | curved, wavy, wiggly, zigzag | diagonal, horizontal, parallel, perpendicular, vertical | continuous, solid | broken, dotted
Sign on the dotted line.
Sign on the dotted line.
finishing, starting | contour
VERB + LINE
draw
LINE + VERB
run | divide sth
PREP.
in a ~
walk in a straight line
walk in a straight line
PHRASES
a line of latitude/longitude
2. mark like a line on the skin
ADJ.
deep
Deep lines ran from her nose to her mouth.
Deep lines ran from her nose to her mouth.
VERB + LINE
have
He has lines on his forehead.
He has lines on his forehead.
LINE + VERB
run
3. row of people, things, words on a page, etc.
ADJ.
long | short | new | continuous
VERB + LINE
form
PREP.
in (a/the) ~
children standing in a line
children standing in a line
on a/the ~
Start each paragraph on a new line.
Start each paragraph on a new line.
4. telephone/electricity wire/connection
ADJ.
direct | bad
Speak up - it''s rather a bad line.
Speak up - it''s rather a bad line.
busy | power | phone, telephone | outside, party, private
What do I dial for an outside line?
What do I dial for an outside line?
VERB + LINE
hold
Hold the line (= Don''t put the receiver down), please.
Hold the line (= Don''t put the receiver down), please.
LINE + VERB
be engaged | be/go dead
PREP.
down the ~
He kept shouting down the line at me.
He kept shouting down the line at me.
on the ~
It''s your mother on the line (= on the telephone).
It''s your mother on the line (= on the telephone).
on ~ (also ‘online’)
(= connected to a computer system)
(= connected to a computer system)
5. section of railway track
ADJ.
railway, train | main | branch, commuter, feeder
The branch line is threatened with closure.
The branch line is threatened with closure.
VERB + LINE
take
Take the Bakerloo line and change at Piccadilly.
Take the Bakerloo line and change at Piccadilly.
PREP.
on a/the ~
We live on the Northern Line.
We live on the Northern Line.
PHRASES
the end of the line 6 lines
words spoken by an actor in a play
words spoken by an actor in a play
VERB + LINE
learn | forget | fluff
7. direction/course of thought/action
ADJ.
broad
The broad lines of company policy are already laid down.
The broad lines of company policy are already laid down.
firm, hard, strong, tough | official, party, political
VERB + LINE
adopt, follow, pursue, take | bring sb/sth into
The other members of the board must be brought into line.
The other members of the board must be brought into line.
PREP.
in ~ with
(= in agreement with),
(= in agreement with),
out of ~ with
(= not in agreement with) out of line with party policies
(= not in agreement with) out of line with party policies
~ on
the official line on food safety
the official line on food safety
PHRASES
a line of argument/enquiry/questioning
8. place where an army is fighting
ADJ.
battle, firing, front
PHRASES
behind enemy lines, in/on the front line