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Glite Dictionary
to draw a line in the sand

to draw a line in the sand

10 6.7
To set a clear limit that must not be crossed
  • idiom
translation icon : poner un límite
  • So I need to draw a line in the sand and say that I will take you seriously.
  • draw a line in the sand and say
  • draw a line in the sand on issues

And I like one day I drew a line in the sand and I wouldn't do it.

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Examples

  • The president should draw a line in the sand: Don’t raise veterans’ health care premiums.

    Blog text (16)

  • The manager decided to draw a line in the sand regarding employee behavior after recent incidents.

  • You need to draw a line in the sand.

    The Forge (2024)

  • Then we draw a line in the sand and hold them here.

    Superman/Batman: Apocalypse (2010)

  • But we have to draw a line in the sand somewhere.

    Blog text (30)

  • We're drawing a line in the sand.

    A Stalker in the House (2021)

  • Today, I'm drawing a line in the sand.

    Songbird (2020)

  • Once these guys draw a line in the sand, that's pretty much it.

    Rising Sun (1993)

  • Coach Yawney has told the players they need to "draw a line in the sand."

    Blog text (11)

  • We need to draw a line in the sand to differentiate between security and spying.

    Blog text (1)

Synonyms

to draw the line
vsto draw a line in the sand
  • Informal
82 4.1

Set a clear limit on what you will accept

is about declaring a limit that causes consequences if crossed
to draw a line
vsto draw a line in the sand
8 3.8

Set a clear limit on what is acceptable

is focused on limits that when crossed signal a changed situation
to demarcate
vsto draw a line in the sand
4 7.9

To mark the border between two areas with a line or fence

is more about creating a limit that implies future consequences if crossed
to mark the boundary
vsto draw a line in the sand
1 3.9

To show the line that separates two places

is about setting a limit that brings consequences when crossed
to set a clear boundary
vsto draw a line in the sand
4.1

To make a clear line between two areas or kinds of activity

is narrower by adding consequences after that point is crossed

Antonyms

to blur the line
6 6.7

To make the difference between two things hard to see

to derestrict
8.6

To remove limits from something so people can use it freely

How Firm

to draw a line in the sand
10 6.7

Surface Forms

draw a line in the sand infinitive
drawing a line in the sand present participle
draws a line in the sand third person singular
drew a line in the sand past
drawn a line in the sand past participle

Morphology

draw + a + line + in + the + sand

The meaning 'to set a clear limit or boundary' is directly derivable from combining 'draw' (to mark or make) + 'line' (a division or boundary) and 'in the sand' (a visible physical location), so a learner who knows the constituent words can infer the figurative sense. The concrete physical metaphor of marking a boundary is cross-linguistically common and follows normal composition, making this expression transparent to B1 learners.

Etymology

The idiom draw a line in the sand comes from the picture of someone using a stick to draw a clear line in the sand as a simple 'limit' people should not cross. That's why it means 'to set a clear limit or boundary' and warn that crossing it will cause trouble.