line of defense
23
3.4
- noun
- /laɪn əv dɪˈfɛns/
- US
- We talk about the immune system as our "front line of defense."
- the first line of defense
- the last line of defense
- the front line of defense
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Watch on YouTubeBitcoin mining may be our last line of defense against a CBDC.
- Bitcoin mining may be our last line of defense against a CBDC.
- So these were our first line of defense and QRF if anything went wrong.
- Stand up for the people because they are the last line of defense.
- There's so many lines of defense they have protecting them from even making it to prison.
- Every single person here isn't the last line of defense.
- There is a mental strength that comes along with you're the last line of defense.
- And they are very good at convincing people, which only gives them one more line of defense, one more fortification.
Examples
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This city is tearing itself apart and cops are our last line of defense.
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My dogs were professionally trained as guard dogs and are my best line of defense against a home invader.
Blog text (14) -
You are our last line of defense.
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We're the first line of defense.
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It's a line of defense.
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This is our last line of defence.
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For us, anonymity will be the first line of defense.
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The first line of defense is to prevent phishing attacks from reaching end users in the first place.
Academic text (2012) -
Quarantines and trade and transport regulations are a first line of defense in preventing invasions by these hitchhiking "tramp" species.
Academic text (1996) -
Parents are often the first line of defense for their children against dangers in the world.
Synonyms
∞
2.5
Things or people that keep homes and buildings safe from crime and danger
460
1.4
Protection from attack, danger, harm, or illness
63
3.3
A group of people who go with and protect an important person from danger
44
3.9
Weapons and other equipment used to protect a country or area from attack
30
4.2
Systems and weapons that protect a place from enemy aircraft or missiles
10
3.8
A group of soldiers and other people trained to protect a country from attack
1
3.4
An official plan to protect a country using its military
1
7.5
A strong place or thing that protects people from bad things
Antonyms
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is directly compositional: 'line' (a row/position) + 'of' + 'defense' (protection) yields a protective row/level or system, so the overall sense is predictable from the parts. This construction is literal and common across languages (e.g. Spanish 'línea de defensa', French 'ligne de défense'), so a B1 learner who knows the constituent words should understand it.
Etymology
Line of defense comes from the idea of people or systems standing in a line to give defense, like firefighters or guards who protect a town. So, it now means 'an organization or system that protects'.