- [countable]
a long, thin mark on a surface 线；线条 a straight/solid/dotted/dashed line 直线/实线/虚线/虚线 a wavy/diagonal line 波浪线/斜线 a vertical/horizontal line 垂直线；水平线 parallel lines 平行线 Draw a thick black line across the page. 在此页上横画一条粗黑线。
Extra ExamplesHe wrote the title and drew a line under it. 他写了标题，并在下面画了一条线。 She could draw a perfectly straight line. 她能画一条完美的直线。 He created his first strictly geometrical work, using only straight lines and circles. 他创造了他的第一个严格的几何作品，只用直线和圆。 a faint white line 模糊的白线 Cut along the dotted line. 沿虚线裁开。 The outlines of the object beneath its cover are shown in dotted lines. 覆盖物下的物体轮廓用虚线表示。 The old Roman road is indicated on the map by a dotted line. 旧罗马道路在地图上用虚线标出。 This is indicated in sheet music by a long wavy line connecting the two staves. 在乐谱中，这是由一条连接两根乐谱的长波浪线表示的。 The contour lines represent points of equal elevation. 等高线代表等高的点。 The mural has white diagonal lines crisscrossing in all directions. 壁画上有纵横交错的白色斜线。 Red lines denote security updates and blue lines denote recommended updates. 红线表示安全更新，蓝线表示推荐更新。 a pattern of parallel wavy lines 平行波浪线的图案 Draw a chalk line on the container to record the level. 在容器上画一条粉笔线来记录液位。 He traces a line in white paint along the wall. 他沿着墙用白漆画了一条线。 The road has a double yellow line painted on the side indicating that you cannot park. 这条路的侧面画了一条黄色的双线，表示你不能停车。 A red line marks where the wall stood. 一条红线标出了墙的位置。 The pencil line connects one box to another. 铅笔线把一个方框与另一个方框连起来。 The watercolor strokes and the pencil lines run in the same direction. 水彩笔画和铅笔画的方向相同。 She draws the paint out into thin, spidery lines. 她把颜料画成细长的线条。 The work shows thin black parallel lines crossing a field of white. 这幅作品展示了穿过白色区域的黑色平行线。 Dark areas are shaded with thin lines. 深色区域用细线阴影。 Why is there that faint vertical line on the screen? 为什么屏幕上有那条淡淡的垂直线？ Yellowish spots form a line down the middle of the caterpillar's back. 黄色斑点在毛毛虫背部中间形成一条线。
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- long
- short
- thick
- …
- draw
- mark
- run
- divide something
- separate something
- …
- in a line
- a line of latitude
- a line of longitude
- [countable]
a long, thin mark on the ground to show the limit or border of something, especially of a playing area in some sports 界线；（尤指运动场地的）场地线，场界 The first to cross the line wins the race. 第一个冲过终点线的人赢得比赛。 They were all waiting on the starting line. 他们全都在起跑线上等待着。 She crossed the centre line and hit an oncoming truck. 她越过中线，撞上了一辆迎面而来的卡车。 - over/across the line
The ball was over the line. 球越线了。 - behind the line
Your feet must be behind the line when you serve (= in tennis). 发球时你的脚必须站在底线的外面。
Extra ExamplesTopics Sports: ball and racket sportsa1The ball was called out but a replay showed it was right on the line. 球被叫了出来，但重放显示它就在边线上。 A goal was given but I don't think the ball crossed the line. 给了我一个进球，但我认为球没有越线。 He moved the ball quickly along the line and scored. 他沿着线迅速移动球并得分。 They are good at passing the ball down the line. 他们擅长把球传到底线。 He stood in the middle of an empty football pitch, on the centre line. 他站在一个空荡荡的足球场中央，在中线上。 It was a photo finish, with three cyclists appearing to cross the line simultaneously. 这是一个照片结束，三个骑自行车的人似乎同时越过了线。 She got off the start line quickly and was leading at the 500-meter mark. 她很快下了起跑线，在500米处领先。 It's a country lane with no lines. 这是一条没有线条的乡间小路。
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- long
- short
- thick
- …
- draw
- mark
- run
- divide something
- separate something
- …
- in a line
- a line of latitude
- a line of longitude
- [countable]
a mark like a line on somebody’s skin that people usually get as they get older 皱纹；褶子 Extra ExamplesDeep worry lines had appeared on her forehead. 深深的愁纹已经爬上了她的额头。 I saw the faint lines of concern etched into his brow. 我看见他的额头上已经出现了淡淡的愁纹。 a cream that improves the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles 改善细纹和皱纹的面霜 I'm starting to get lines around my mouth. 我的嘴角开始有皱纹了。 The camera focuses on the wrinkled laughter lines around the man's eyes. 镜头聚焦在男人眼睛周围布满皱纹的笑纹上。 The bright light shows all the lines on your face. 明亮的光线显示出你脸上所有的线条。 a slim face with deep lines on either side of the mouth 嘴巴两边都有很深皱纹的瘦脸 Smoking gives you lines on your skin. 吸烟会让你的皮肤产生皱纹。 She says she doesn't frown because it gives you lines. 她说她不皱眉，因为它给你线条。
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- worry
- deep
- faint
- …
- have
- run
- appear
- [countable]
a row of people or things next to each other or behind each other 排；行；列 They formed a line and marched forward. 他们排成一行向前行进。 - in a line
The children all stood in a line. 孩子们全都站成一排。 - line of something
They were stuck in a line of traffic. 他们塞在汽车长龙里面了。 a straight/long line of trees 一排笔直/长长的树
Extra ExamplesMake sure the posts are planted in a straight line. 确保柱子排成一条直线。 There were three bins in a line. 一排有三个箱子。 They were all walking along the lane in a line. 他们都排成一行沿着小路走。 grasses are planted at regular intervals in long diagonal lines 草以固定的间隔种植在长对角线上 A line of cars stretched as far as the eye could see. 一排汽车一直延伸到眼睛能看到的地方。 There was a long line of lorries on the A40. A40公路上有一长列卡车。 A line of dancers stood on stage kicking their legs. 一排舞者站在舞台上踢腿。 A line of trees was sillhouetted against the sky. 天空映衬出一排树木。 A line of mounted police stopped protesters. 一队骑警拦住了抗议者。
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- long
- short
- new
- …
- form
- in a/the line
- on a/the line
- [countable] (North American English)
a queue of people （人）队伍，行列 A line formed at each teller window. 银行每个出纳员的窗口前都排起了队。 - in line
to stand/wait in line 排队等候 If you want a ticket, get in line. 想要票就排队。 - line for something
There's a line for the women's bathroom. 女洗手间有一条线。 They have to stand in line for groceries. 他们不得不排队买杂货。
Extra ExamplesThe lunch line was long as usual. 午餐那里照常排着长队。 You'll have to wait in line like everybody else. 你必须和所有其他人一样排队等候。 people standing in line at the bank 人们在银行排队 How many hours each week do you spend waiting in line for coffee? 你每周花多少时间排队买咖啡？ ‘Get back in line!’ the teacher snarled. “回去排队，”。老师咆哮道。 He was sent to the back of the line. 他被送到队伍的后面。 I joined the line and prepared for a long wait. 我加入了队伍，准备长时间等待。 supermarket checkout lines 超市付款处等候的队列 The lines stretched around the block. 线条环绕着街区。 There was a long line at the post office. 邮局排起了长队。 If there's a line for the women's room, I go in the men's. 如果女厕所有排队，我就去男厕所。
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- long
- short
- checkout
- …
- form
- in line
- [countable]
a phone connection; a particular phone number 电话线路；电话号码 The phone lines were jammed (= very busy) with people calling to complain. 电话线路被打来投诉的人堵塞了。 I tried to call but the line was busy. 我试着打电话，但是占线。 I was talking to John when the line suddenly went dead. 我正和约翰谈话，突然电话断了。 Lines are open from 7.30 am until midnight seven days a week. 线路每周七天从早上7:30一直开到午夜。 If you hold the line (= stay on the phone and wait), I'll see if she is available. 请你不要挂断电话，我去看看她能不能接电话。 - on the line
It's your mother on the line. 是你母亲打的电话。 Your bill includes line rental. 你的账单包括电话线路的租用费。
Extra ExamplesTopics Phones, email and the interneta2He kept shouting down the line at me. 他一直在电话的另一端冲我大喊大叫。 Please stay on the line until one of our customer service operatives becomes available. 请不要挂断电话，直到我们的客服人员有空为止。 She didn't know that he was on the line listening to the call. 她不知道他在听电话。 Speak up—it's rather a bad line. 说话大点儿声，这条线路相当糟糕。 What do I dial for an outside line? 应该怎么拨外线？ At that time you needed a phone line to connect with the internet. 那时你需要一条电话线来连接互联网。 The toll-free phone line is open from 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. 免费电话从早上8:30开始开通。到下午6:30。 The panic room has its own ventilation system and telephone line. 应急室有自己的通风系统和电话线。 He gave me the number of his private line. 他给了我他的私人电话号码。 I don't use this line for personal calls. 我不用这条线打私人电话。 You can call me back on this line. 你可以打这个电话给我。 ‘Bye,’ he said and the line went dead. “再见，”他说，电话挂断了。 Lines are now open and viewers can vote by calling 090 77 77 77. 线路现已开通，观众可以拨打090 77 77 77进行投票。 Throughout the evening the telephone lines will be open for listeners to share their memories. 整个晚上，电话线路将向听众开放，让他们分享自己的记忆。 Whenever I try to ring the doctor's the lines are all busy. 每当我想给医生打电话时，电话都占线。 They said they tried to call you, but your line was busy. 他们说他们想打电话给你，但是你的电话占线。
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- direct
- trunk
- power
- …
- hold
- be busy
- be engaged
- be dead
- …
- down the line
- on the line
- on line
- …
- [countable]
a railway track or other transport route; a section of a transport system or route 轨道；铁道；（铁路的）段，线路 The train was delayed because a tree had fallen across the line. 火车晚点是因为有一棵树横倒在铁轨上。 a rail line 铁路线 - (British English also)
a railway line 铁路线。 the East Coast line 东海岸铁路线 We got off the bus near the end of the line at San Gerardo. 我们在圣盖拉多的线路末端下车。 Streetcar lines carried passengers to ever more distant areas of the city. 有轨电车线路将乘客运送到城市中更远的地方。 - on a line
We live on the Northern Line. 我们住在北在线。
Extra ExamplesTopics Transport by bus and traina2The restaurant has an unpromising site beside a railway line. 这家餐馆在一条铁路线旁有一个没有前途的地方。 Trains were cancelled because of leaves on the line. 由于线路上有树叶，火车被取消了。 They built a high-speed rail line linking the two cities. 他们修建了一条连接这两个城市的高速铁路线。 The new line would link Clapham Junction in south-west London with Dalston in the north-east of the city. 这条新线路将连接伦敦西南部的克拉彭枢纽和东北部的达尔斯顿。 There are two railroad lines running next to the French Quarter. 法国区旁边有两条铁路线。 He became a successful stagecoach operator, establishing lines between Boston, Massachusetts and Albany, New York. 他成为了一名成功的公共马车操作员，在马萨诸塞州的波士顿和纽约州的奥尔巴尼之间建立了线路。 You have to get off the bus here—it's the end of the line. 你必须在这里下车——这是终点。 the little village of Jicotea, at the end of the bus line 公交线路尽头的小村庄吉科塔 The branch line is threatened with closure. 这条铁路支线面临关停。
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- rail
- railway
- train
- …
- take
- on a/the line
- the end of the line
- [countable, usually singular]
the direction that somebody/something is moving or located in （行进的）方向，路线；方位 - in a line
Just keep going in a straight line. 一直走直线就好。 The town is in a direct line between London and the coast. 这个镇在伦敦与海岸之间的直线上。 - line of something
Be careful to stay out of the line of fire (= the direction somebody is shooting in). 注意待在射击路线以外。 They followed the line of the river for three miles. 他们沿着那条河走了三英里。
Extra ExamplesHe couldn't even walk in a straight line. 他甚至不能走直线。 The surveyors moved across the country, through forests, up mountains, and down ravines, but always travelling in straight lines. 测量员在全国各地移动，穿过森林，上山，下山，但总是直线行进。 The wall follows the line of the mountain range. 这堵墙沿着山脉的走向。 We could have gone in a more direct line to Denver. 我们本可以走更直接的路线去丹佛。 It's three miles along the road, although only a mile and a half away in a direct line. 沿着这条路有三英里，尽管只有一英里半的直线距离。 The kitchen garden runs along the line of the building's south facing terrace. 厨房花园沿着大楼朝南的露台延伸。 If you follow the line of my finger, you can see the building there on the hillside. 如果你顺着我的手指线走，你可以看到山坡上的那栋大楼。
- in a line
- [countable]
a route from one place to another especially when it is used for a particular purpose 路线；路径；渠道 - [countable] (abbreviation l)
a row of words on a page or the empty space where they can be written; the words of a song or poem or other piece of writing 字行；便条；留言条；歌词；诗行 Look at line 5 of the text. 看正文第 5 行。 Write the title of your essay on the top line. 把文章的标题写在首行。 I can only remember the first two lines of that song. 我只记得那首歌的头两句歌词。 She quoted a few lines of Shakespeare. 她引用了莎士比亚的几行诗。 A team of programmers wrote 200 000 lines of code (= computer programming language). 一组程序员写了20万行代码。 Avoid a line break (= starting a new line) in the middle of a word. 避免在单词中间换行。
Extra ExamplesTopics Literature and writinga1Start each paragraph on a new line. 每一段另起一行。 There should be a full stop at the end of the line. 线的尽头应该有一个句号。 He asked me to sing the opening lines of Tosti's ‘In the hush of the night’. 他让我唱托蒂的《在夜晚的寂静中》的开头几行。 Each picture is accompanied by a short line of text. 每张图片都附有一小段文字。 As soon as I read those lines I knew this was a writer I would love. 我一读到这些台词，就知道这是一个我会喜欢的作家。 The story's first line reads, ‘There were once two little girls who saw, or believed they saw, a thing in a forest.’ 故事的第一行写道，“曾经有两个小女孩在森林里看见了或者相信她们看见了一个东西。 He pointed to a line in the book he was holding. 他指着他拿着的书里的一行。 Each line of the poem has five stressed syllables. 这首诗的每行有五个重读音节。 A sonnet usually has fourteen lines. 十四行诗通常有十四行。 The first letter of each line forms a word. 每行的第一个字母组成一个单词。 The poet was very particular about the font, punctuation, and line spacing of his poems. 这位诗人对他的诗的字体、标点和行距非常挑剔。
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- long
- short
- new
- …
- form
- in a/the line
- on a/the line
- [countable]
the words spoken by an actor in a play or film （戏剧或电影的）台词，对白 to learn your lines 背台词 I keep forgetting my lines. 我总是忘记我的台词。 The way she delivers the line is hilarious. 她传递台词的方式很搞笑。 - line from something
He quoted a line from the film ‘Casablanca’. 他引用了电影《卡萨布兰卡》中的一句台词。
He delivers his lines in a flat, uninflected way. 他以平淡无奇的方式传递他的台词。 In a musical, actors often sing their lines. 在音乐剧中，演员经常唱他们的台词。 In the audition you will be asked to read a few lines. 试镜时，你会被要求读几行。 He read his lines in a monotone. 他单调地念着台词。 She is obviously reading lines from a script. 她显然是在读剧本的台词。 The film includes some great lines. 这部电影包括一些很棒的台词。 an unoriginal plot enlivened by a few good lines of dialogue 几行对话活跃了一个非原创的情节 That's when he utters the memorable line ‘Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn.’ 这时他说出了令人难忘的一句话:“坦白地说，亲爱的，我一点也不在乎。 He started coughing in the middle of the line. 他在队伍中间开始咳嗽。 It was a small part with few lines. 这是一个很小的部分，只有几行。 Actors always want more lines. 演员总是想要更多的台词。
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverb + lines- learn
- practise/practice
- recite
- …
- lines[plural] (British English) (in some schools)
a punishment in which a child has to write out a particular sentence a number of times （某些学校）重复抄写句子的惩罚 The teacher gave me 100 lines. 老师罚我抄写 100 行。
- [countable] (informal)
a remark, especially when somebody says it to achieve a particular purpose （尤指为达到某种目的说的）话，言语 - [countable, uncountable]
a long piece of rope, string, etc., especially when it is used for a particular purpose 一段绳（或索、线等） They dropped the sails and threw a line to a man on the dock. 他们放下风帆，把船缆抛给码头上的人。 - on the line
Towels were hanging on the line (= clothes line). 毛巾挂在绳子上。 He had a fish on his line. 他钓到了一条鱼。 150 feet of nylon line 150英尺长的尼龙线
Extra ExamplesGet the clothes off the line. 把衣服脱下来。 When he reeled in his line, there was nothing on the end of it. 当他收线时，线的末端什么也没有。 He measured the land by laying out lines running due east-west and six miles apart, cut at right angles by other lines running due north-south, to create a grid. 他通过布置东西走向、相距6英里的直线来测量土地，并与其他南北走向的直线成直角，以创建一个网格。 An anchor was dropped over the side on almost 1 000 feet of anchor line. 一个锚在将近1 000英尺的锚线上从侧面落下。 The fish immediately pulled out about 20 yards of line. 这条鱼立即拉出了大约20码长的鱼线。
- [countable]
a pipe or thick wire that carries water, gas or electricity from one place to another 管道；线路 water/gas/sewage lines 水/气/污水管线 Telephone lines were brought down in the storm. 电话线在暴风雨中被切断了。 There were two fuel lines coming into the engine. 有两条燃料线路接入发动机。 The telegraph lines connecting the two cities had been cut. 连接这两个城市的电报线路被切断了。
Extra Examplesa series of posts which were linked to one another by telegraph lines 通过电报线路相互连接的一系列柱子 They made plans for new sewage lines and roads. 他们计划修建新的污水管道和道路。 The infrastructure, including sewage pipes and water lines, is in bad shape. 包括污水管道和水管在内的基础设施状况不佳。 The storm has cut off electricity lines and blocked roads. 暴风雨切断了电线，堵塞了道路。 Excavations for driveways, gas lines or other utilities may have caused root damage. 车道、输气管道或其他公用设施的挖掘可能导致根部损坏。
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- direct
- trunk
- power
- …
- hold
- be busy
- be engaged
- be dead
- …
- down the line
- on the line
- on line
- …
- [countable]
an imaginary limit or border between one place or thing and another 分界线；边界线 a district/county line 行政区界；郡界 lines of longitude and latitude 经线和纬线 - across a line
He was convicted of illegally importing weapons across state lines. 他被判犯有非法越州偷运武器罪。
Extra ExamplesHis family lived across the state line in West Virginia. 他的家人住在州界线那边的西弗吉尼亚州境内。 As we crossed the New York state line, we passed a field of soybeans. 当我们穿过纽约州的边界线时，我们经过了一片大豆田。 He remembers the first time he crossed the line into Iraq. 他记得自己第一次穿越边境进入伊拉克的情景。 the boundary line between two countries 两国之间的边界线 We must end this separation of rich and poor across school district lines. 我们必须结束这种跨越学区界限的贫富分化。 Computer databases are being used to redraw electoral district lines. 计算机数据库正被用于重划选区界线。 For residents of Los Angeles, California, the county line to the south is often referred to as ‘the orange curtain’. 对于加州洛杉矶的居民来说，南边的县界通常被称为“橙色幕布”。 The Civil War was a moment when the various lines dividing the country were contested. 内战是划分国家的各种界线发生争议的时刻。 The Equator is an imaginary line encircling the globe. 赤道是一条环绕地球的假想线。 When they talk about North and South, they are referring to an imaginary line from Dublin to Galway. 当他们谈论南北时，他们指的是从都柏林到戈尔韦的一条假想线。
- [countable]
the division between one area of thought or behaviour and another or between one group of people and another （思想或行为的）界限，界线 Mass consumption blurred the lines of class distinction. 大众消费模糊了阶级界限。 We want to cut across lines of race, sex and religion. 我们要超越种族、性别和宗教的界限。 Music offers a way to cross cultural lines. 音乐提供了一种跨越文化界限的方式。 - line between A and B
There is a fine line between informing the public and alarming them. 告知公众和警告公众之间有一条微妙的界线。
There's a fine line between showing interest in what someone is doing and interfering in it. 对某人正在做的事情表现出兴趣和干预之间有一条微妙的界线。 With this film he crosses the line into straightforward commercialism. 通过这部电影，他跨越了界限，进入了直截了当的商业化。 Government is damaged when the line separating church and state is crossed. 当政教分离的界限被跨越时，政府就被破坏了。 This architecture is about blurring the lines between nature and the built environment. 这个建筑是关于模糊自然和建筑环境之间的界限。 Her work plays with stereotypes, blurring lines of sex and gender. 她的作品玩弄刻板印象，模糊了性和性别的界限。 British figurative artist Gary Benfield straddles the line between drawing and painting. 英国具象艺术家加里·本菲尔德介于绘画和绘画之间。 Some of the performances fail to straddle the fine line between understatement and dullness. 有些表演没有跨越低调和沉闷之间的界限。
- [countable, usually singular]
an attitude or a belief, especially one that somebody states publicly （尤指公开表明的）态度，看法 The company line is that discrimination in any form is not tolerated. 公司的原则是不容忍任何形式的歧视。 - line on something
He supported the official line on education. 他支持官方的教育理念。 The government is taking a firm line on terrorism. 政府现在对恐怖主义采取强硬的态度。
Extra ExamplesThere's been a hardening of lines on both sides (= both sides have developed stricter or more fixed attitudes). 双方的态度都变得强硬了。 A senior intelligence officer contradicted the government's official line. 一名高级情报官员反驳了政府的官方路线。 Newsreaders just repeat the government line. 新闻广播员只是重复政府的路线。 They are expected to unquestioningly support the management line. 他们应该毫无疑问地支持管理层。 His speech cast aside the Foreign Office line on the issue. 他的讲话抛开了外交部在这个问题上的立场。 I tend to take the line that as long as everyone consents and is of a legal age, then it is best to just let people do what they want. 我倾向于认为，只要每个人都同意并且达到法定年龄，那么最好让人们做他们想做的事情。 The administration has taken a line that is basically contrary to its own principles. 政府采取了一条基本上违背自己原则的路线。
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- broad
- firm
- hard
- …
- adopt
- follow
- pursue
- …
- in line with
- out of line with
- line on
- …
- a line of argument
- a line of reasoning
- a line of attack
- …
- [countable]
a method or way of doing or thinking about something 方法；方式 His research follows quite different lines. 他的研究遵循完全不同的路线。 - line of something
I don't follow your line of reasoning. 我不理解你的推理方法。 a line of thought/thinking 一条思路/思路 She decided to try a different line of argument (= way of persuading somebody of something). 她决定换一种说理方式。 somebody’s first line of attack/defence 某人进行抨击／辩护的第一着 The police are pursuing a new line of inquiry (= way of finding out information). 警方正在实施一种新的调查方法。
Extra ExamplesThis line of thought perturbs me. 这种思路令我深感不安。 His line of thinking seems to be that the food industry is fraudulently promoting addictive, unhealthy foods as healthy. 他的思路似乎是，食品行业正在欺骗性地将上瘾的不健康食品宣传为健康食品。 We know that intelligence is our first line of defence against terrorism. 我们知道情报是我们对抗恐怖主义的第一道防线。 Our approach involves two main lines of attack. 我们采取的方法包括两条主要进攻路线。 This line of questioning seemed to be getting us nowhere. 这一连串的问题似乎对我们毫无帮助。 One line of research focuses on gender. 其中一项研究侧重于性别。 We are pursuing several lines of investigation. 我们正在进行几项调查。 The broad lines of company policy are already laid down. 公司政策的总方针已经制订。 Multiple lines of evidence were all leading to the same conclusion. 多条证据都指向同一个结论。 Keep your lines of communication open. 保持沟通渠道畅通。 The plot runs along predictable lines. 剧情沿着可预测的路线发展。 Other writers followed similar lines in discussing this theorem. 其他作家在讨论这个定理时也遵循了类似的思路。 It's pointless to pursue that line any further. 进一步追求那条线是没有意义的。
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- broad
- firm
- hard
- …
- adopt
- follow
- pursue
- …
- in line with
- out of line with
- line on
- …
- a line of argument
- a line of reasoning
- a line of attack
- …
- [countable, usually singular]
a series of people, things or events that follow one another in time 按时间顺序排列的人（或物、事件）；家系；家族 to pass something down through the male/female line 通过父系／母系代代相传某物 - line of something
She came from a long line of doctors. 她来自一个医生世家。 This novel is the latest in a long line of thrillers that he has written. 这部小说是他写的系列惊险小说中最近出版的一部。 That was the first in a whole line of mistakes and bad decisions. 这是一连串错误和错误决定中的第一个。 - line (from somebody/something) (to somebody/something)
The book traces a historical line from Beethoven to the present day. 这本书追溯了从贝多芬到今天的历史轨迹。 - down the line
The muddle seems to have happened further down the line. 混乱似乎发生在更深处。
Extra ExamplesThe film traces a line of events from their first meeting through to their tragic separation and death. 这部电影追溯了一系列事件，从他们的第一次相遇到他们悲惨的分离和死亡。 We can trace a line of such thinking from Voltaire. 我们可以从伏尔泰那里追溯到这样一条思路。 His work is in a direct line from that of John Cassavetes. 他的工作和约翰·卡索维茨的工作是一脉相承的。 I do not accept the claim that there is a direct line from Nietzsche via Heidegger to Nazism. 我不接受从尼采经由海德格尔到纳粹主义有一条直线的说法。 Mitochondrial DNA makes it possible to trace the maternal line. 线粒体DNA使得追踪母系成为可能。 The mutation gets passed down the ancestral line. 这种变异会遗传给祖先。 This is pop that can trace its line all the way back to the Beatles. 这是一种流行音乐，可以追溯到甲壳虫乐队。
- [countable, usually singular]
a series of people in order of importance 一系列按重要性排列的人 - line of something
a line of command 一系列按职务排序的指挥人员 There is some benefit to having a clear line of authority. 拥有明确的权限是有好处的。 - down the line (from somebody/something)
Orders came down the line from the very top. 命令从最高领导人逐级传达下来。 - in line (to somebody/something)
He is second in line to the chairman. 他的地位仅次于主席。 to be next in line to the throne 为王位第一顺位继承人
Extra ExamplesYou have to report them to a higher authority, someone further up the line. 你必须向更高一级的机构报告，更高层的人。 They undermined old lines of authority. 他们破坏了旧的权威。 He resigned and the next in the line of succession became president. 他辞职了，继任的下一任成为了总统。 There was nostalgia for the traditional dynastic line of succession. 人们怀念传统的王朝继承路线。 Prince George is currently third in line to the throne. 乔治王子目前是王位的第三顺位继承人。 She is next in line for a promotion. 她是下一个晋升的候选人。 I was the heir; I was next in line. 我是继承人；我是下一个。 She was first in line to succeed her father. 她是接替她父亲的第一人选。
- line of something
- [countable]
the edge, outline or shape of somebody/something 边线；轮廓线；形体；形状 He traced the line of her jaw with his finger. 他用手指顺着她的下巴外缘抚摸。 a beautiful sports car with sleek lines 线条流畅、美观的跑车 I prefer simple lines in skirts and trousers. 我更喜欢裙子和裤子的简单线条。
- [countable]
a system of making something, in which the product moves from one worker to the next until it is finished 生产线；流水线 - [singular]
a type or area of business, activity or interest 行业；活动的范围 - line of something
My line of work pays pretty well. 我的职业报酬颇丰厚。 What line of business are they in? 他们从事什么行业？ - in the… line
You can't do much in the art line without training. 没经过训练，你在艺术行业是不会有多大作为的。
- line of something
- [countable]
a type of product 种类；类型 - [countable]
(often used in names 常用于名称 a company that provides transport for people or goods 运输公司；航运公司 a shipping/bus line 航运／公共汽车公司 the White Star Line 白星线
- [countable]
a row or series of military defences where the soldiers are fighting during a war 防线；前线；战线 Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- battle
- defensive
- firing
- …
- behind enemy lines
- in the front line
- on the front line
- …
- [countable] (slang)
an amount of cocaine that is spread out in a thin line, ready to take （准备吸用的）散放成一条细线的可卡因
long thin mark线
row of people/things人或物的行列
phone
railway/bus
route/direction路线；方向
words文字
rope/wire/pipe绳索；金属线；管子
division分界线
attitude/argument态度；论点
series系列
shape形状
in factory工厂
activity活动
product产品
transport运输
soldiers士兵
drugs毒品
Word Originnoun Old English līne ‘rope, series’, probably of Germanic origin, from Latin linea (fibra) ‘flax (fibre)’, from Latin linum ‘flax’, reinforced in Middle English by Old French ligne, based on Latin linea.
Idioms
above the line
- (
finance 金融 connected with the income that a company receives and the costs it has to pay in its daily business, which affect the profit it makes （常作反话）太不幸了，真够倒霉 All these costs are above the line and directly hit profits. 所有这些成本都是超线的，直接打击利润。
- (
business 商业 connected with advertising in the mass media 在最重要的岗位上；在第一线 They planned an advertising campaign with both above-the-line and social media components. 他们计划了一场广告活动，包括线上和社交媒体两个部分。
along/down the line
along/on (the)… lines
- (informal)
in the way that is mentioned 按…方式 - (informal)
similar to the way or thing that is mentioned 类似于（提及的方式或东西）
the battle lines are drawn
used to say that people or groups have shown which side they intend to support in an argument or contest that is going to begin 战线已经划清（指争战之际各拥一方形成对垒之势）
be, come, etc. on line
to be working or functioning 正运转；在运行
be in the firing line
(North American English also be on the firing line)
below the line
- (
finance 金融 connected with unusual costs or income that a company pays or receives, that are not part of its daily business and are taken away or added after calculating profits 线： 与公司支付或收取的不寻常的成本或收入相关，不属于其日常业务，在计算利润后被去除或增加There was a £4 million extraordinary charge below the line. 线下有400万英镑的额外费用。
- (
business 商业 connected with advertising by means of direct mail, email, social media, events, etc. 完全地；毫无保留 We are planning social networking, digital marketing and below-the-line activities across the country. 我们计划在全国范围内开展社交网络、数字营销和线下活动。
connected with a section at the end of an online article or blog post where readers can put comments 联机；在线 There were numerous comments below the line. 线下有无数评论。
bring somebody/something, come, get, fall, etc. into line (with somebody/something)
to behave or make somebody/something behave in the same way as other people or how they should behave 使一致；使规范；使符合；（和…）一致 The other members of the board must be brought into line. 必须使董事会的其他成员保持一致。 The actions of investors do not always fall into line with financial theory. 投资者的行动并不总是符合金融理论。
cross a/the line
to do something that is not considered to be acceptable behaviour 按…方式 He crossed the line by making details of their very private conversation public. 他把他们非常私人的谈话细节公之于众，这是越界了。
cut in line
(also jump the line)
(both North American English) (British English jump the queue)
to go to the front of a line of people without waiting for your turn 插队；加塞儿；不按次序排队 Somebody cut in line in front of me. 有人在我前面插队。
draw a line under something
- (British English)
to say that something is finished and not worth discussing any more 到…为止；就…打住
(reach) the end of the line/road
(to reach) the point at which something can no longer continue in the same way （达到）尽头，极限；穷途末路
a firm hand
hook, line and sinker
in (a) line (with something)
in line for something
in the line of duty
in line with something
lay it on the line
(draw) a line in the sand
(to establish) a clear limit to what you will do or accept 冒风险 It’s time to draw a line in the sand and stop allowing workplace bullying to continue. 是时候划清界限，停止让职场欺凌继续下去了。
(choose, follow, take, etc.) the line/path of least resistance
(to choose, etc.) the easiest way of doing something （采取）最省事的方法
(put something) on the line
out of line (with somebody/something)
overstep the mark/line
to behave in a way that people think is not acceptable （行为）越轨 She realized she had overstepped the mark and quickly apologized. 她意识到自己越界了，很快就道歉了。
pitch a story/line/yarn (to somebody)
- (informal)
to tell somebody a story or make an excuse that is not true （对某人）编谎话
read between the lines
sign on the dotted line
- (informal)
to sign a document to show that you have agreed to buy something or do something 在签字处签上姓名（表示同意）；签名同意
step out of line | be/get out of line
to behave badly or break the rules 表现不好；不守规矩；越轨；出格 His boss warned him that if he stepped out of line once more he would be fired. 他的老板警告他说，如果他再违反规定，他就会被解雇。
toe the (party) line
(North American English also toe the mark)
to say or do what somebody in authority tells you to say or do, even if you do not share the same opinions, etc. 顺从当局（或集体）；遵循…路线 One or two of them refused to toe the line. 他们中有一两个人拒绝服从命令。 MPs rarely fail to toe the party line. 议员们很少不遵守党的路线。
walk/tread a fine/thin line (between A and B)
to be in a difficult or dangerous situation where you could easily make a mistake 处于困境（或险境）；如履薄冰；走钢丝 He was walking a fine line between being funny and being rude. 他想滑稽而不粗鲁，难以把握分寸。 She often seems to tread a thin line between success and failure. 她似乎经常在成功和失败之间徘徊。
Extra ExamplesHis comedy treads the line between shocking and sickening. 他的喜剧在令人震惊和恶心之间徘徊。 We have to walk a fine line to make sure we don't promote one brand more than another. 我们必须谨慎行事，以确保我们不会推广一个品牌超过另一个品牌。 His buildings walk the thin line between visionary and completely mad. 他的建筑在幻想和完全疯狂之间徘徊。