draw the line: meaning & examples

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Language: English

Meanings:

  • 1.

    General EnglishUnited KingdomUnited StatesAustraliaCanadainformalneutral
    • To set a limit beyond which one will not go or will not tolerate certain behaviour or actions.
    • To refuse to accept or permit something on moral, practical, or personal grounds.

    Examples

    Beta

    • I usually tolerate a lot, but I draw the line at dishonesty in the workplace.

      I usually tolerate a lot, but I draw the line at dishonesty in the workplace.

    • They drew the line when the noise from the party continued past midnight every weekend.

      They drew the line when the noise from the party continued past midnight every weekend.

    • If you ask me to lie, I will draw the line right there and refuse to participate.

      If you ask me to lie, I will draw the line right there and refuse to participate.

    • Have you ever had to draw the line with a friend over something important?

      Have you ever had to draw the line with a friend over something important?

  • 2.

    General EnglishUnited KingdomUnited Statesinformalneutral
    • To establish a boundary or point at which action, compromise, or tolerance must stop; to decide where that boundary lies.

    Examples

    Beta

    • During the negotiations, the union drew the line at any reduction in benefits.

      During the negotiations, the union drew the line at any reduction in benefits.

    • She had to draw the line somewhere to avoid overcommitting herself to every project.

      She had to draw the line somewhere to avoid overcommitting herself to every project.

    • When do you think people should draw the line between freedom of speech and hate speech?

      When do you think people should draw the line between freedom of speech and hate speech?

Examples:

  • EN: I hope you'll draw the line at murder, sir.
    ES: Espero que el asesinato sea su límite, señor.
  • EN: There are a few things I draw the line at.
    ES: Hay algunas cosas en las que pongo mis límites.
  • EN: We must draw the line somewhere.
    ES: Debemos poner ciertos límites.
  • EN: Do you think they draw the line at murder?
    ES: ¿Cree que se limitan al asesinato?
  • EN: And one must draw the line somewhere.
    ES: Y una debe poner un límite en alguna parte.
  • EN: He knows where to draw the line.
    ES: Él sabe dónde poner los límites.
  • EN: Listen, we've got to draw the line someplace and you ain't gonna sleep next to us.
    ES: Escucha, debemos trazar una línea... y tú no dormirás junto a nosotros.
  • EN: After all, you got to draw the line at some things.
    ES: Después de todo, vosotros tenéis limitaciones en ciertas cosas.
  • EN: I draw the line at Yum-Yum.
    ES: Yum-Yum está fuera de esto.
  • EN: If you can draw the line, so can I.
    ES: Entonces yo también.
  • EN: No, Eddie, it won't work. This is where I draw the line.
    ES: No, Eddie, será inútil.
  • EN: That's one thing I draw the line on.
    ES: Eso es algo que me niego a hacer.
  • EN: Look, luscious, it's bad enough having one woman planning out my future, but I draw the line at two.
    ES: Mira, hermosa, ya me molesta que una mujer me planifique el futuro, pero dos es demasiado.
  • EN: When you're demanding tolerance, where do you draw the line at giving it?
    ES: Cuando tú pides tolerancia ¿dónde trazas la línea divisoria?
  • EN: I didn't draw the line in the first place.
    ES: No he sido yo quien ha trazado la raya.
  • EN: I hope you'll draw the line at murder, sir.
    ES: Espero que el asesinato sea su límite, señor.
  • EN: There are a few things I draw the line at.
    ES: Hay algunas cosas en las que pongo mis límites.
  • EN: We must draw the line somewhere.
    ES: Debemos poner ciertos límites.
  • EN: Do you think they draw the line at murder?
    ES: ¿Cree que se limitan al asesinato?
  • EN: And one must draw the line somewhere.
    ES: Y una debe poner un límite en alguna parte.
  • EN: He knows where to draw the line.
    ES: Él sabe dónde poner los límites.
  • EN: Listen, we've got to draw the line someplace and you ain't gonna sleep next to us.
    ES: Escucha, debemos trazar una línea... y tú no dormirás junto a nosotros.
  • EN: After all, you got to draw the line at some things.
    ES: Después de todo, vosotros tenéis limitaciones en ciertas cosas.
  • EN: I draw the line at Yum-Yum.
    ES: Yum-Yum está fuera de esto.
  • EN: If you can draw the line, so can I.
    ES: Entonces yo también.
  • EN: No, Eddie, it won't work. This is where I draw the line.
    ES: No, Eddie, será inútil.
  • EN: That's one thing I draw the line on.
    ES: Eso es algo que me niego a hacer.
  • EN: Look, luscious, it's bad enough having one woman planning out my future, but I draw the line at two.
    ES: Mira, hermosa, ya me molesta que una mujer me planifique el futuro, pero dos es demasiado.
  • EN: When you're demanding tolerance, where do you draw the line at giving it?
    ES: Cuando tú pides tolerancia ¿dónde trazas la línea divisoria?
  • EN: I didn't draw the line in the first place.
    ES: No he sido yo quien ha trazado la raya.

Related Idioms

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Sourced from Wiktionary

Source: Wiktionary

draw the line: Meaning, Examples & Usage (English) | Idiomator