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Glite Dictionary
to sign on the dotted line

to sign on the dotted line

10 4.3
Officially agree to something by writing your name on a document
  • idiom
translation icon : firmar
  • Before you start your new job, please sign on the dotted line to finalize your contract.
  • just sign on the dotted line
  • client signed on the dotted line
  • get them to sign on the dotted line

It's real, you know, So yes, before you sign on the dotted line of getting divorced, you want to know what your partner has.

Examples

Synonyms

to sign
vsto sign on the dotted line
∞ 1.0

To write your name on a paper to show you agree

is about making that written act create an official, binding agreement
to sign off
vsto sign on the dotted line
95 3.9

To give official approval, usually by writing your name on a document

is specifically about agreeing to be bound by a document's terms
to sign on
vsto sign on the dotted line
82 3.4

Agree to join an organization or start working for a company, usually by signing a contract

is broader, covering formal agreement for many kinds of obligations
to ratify
vsto sign on the dotted line
  • Formal
70 6.0

Officially approve an agreement, law, or decision

is about personally making a written agreement immediately binding
to contract
vsto sign on the dotted line
  • Formal
64 3.5

Make a formal written agreement to have someone do work

focuses on the final written act that makes such an arrangement binding
to conclude
vsto sign on the dotted line
  • Formal
50 3.9

To make a formal agreement with others

is the specific written act that finalizes and makes the agreement binding
to sign a treaty
vsto sign on the dotted line
  • Formal
23 3.2

Officially agree to a written deal between countries by putting your name on it

applies more generally to formally agreeing to any written obligations
to seal the deal
vsto sign on the dotted line
  • Informal
22 4.0

Make an agreement official by accepting its final terms

emphasizes the formal written act that makes the arrangement legally binding
to ink
vsto sign on the dotted line
  • Literature
5 5.8

To sign a contract or agreement formally

focuses on making the agreement official and legally binding rather than just the act
to agree to the terms
vsto sign on the dotted line
  • Formal
4 2.5

To accept the conditions of a contract or service

is the act that makes that consent official and legally enforceable
to finalizing the deal
vsto sign on the dotted line
  • US
2 3.5

To complete the steps to make a business agreement official

is the single written action that formally creates the binding contract
to covenant
vsto sign on the dotted line
  • Formal
1 8.1

To make a formal written promise with another person or group

is more about the personal act of creating a legally binding written commitment

Antonyms

to disagree
∞ 1.0

Have a different opinion from someone

How Committed

bound
  • Formal
23 6.0
to sign on the dotted line
10 4.3
to agree
∞ 1.0
to shake hands
138 1.0

Surface Forms

sign on the dotted line infinitive
signed on the dotted line past
signed on the dotted line past participle
signing on the dotted line present participle
signs on the dotted line third person singular

Morphology

sign + on + the + dotted + line

The phrase literally instructs someone to affix a signature on a dotted line: combining 'sign' with the locative phrase 'on the dotted line' directly conveys the act of signing to formalize an agreement. This is a concrete, compositionally transparent legal/administrative image that most learners (and many languages) share, so a B1 learner who knows the constituents will readily infer the meaning.

Etymology

Sign on the dotted line comes from paper contracts that show a dotted line where you should sign. Putting your name on that line made the deal 'official', so the phrase now means 'to formally agree'.