Meaning & use
crossing the picket line
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Meaning
phraseidiom
Going through or past a group of striking workers to work or enter a workplace, often seen as showing support for the employer.
Grammar: Used as a verb phrase; the main verb 'cross' can change tense: 'crossed the picket line'.
Patterns
- cross a picket line
- crossing the picket line to work
The workers were angry at those who were crossing the picket line.
He lost the respect of his colleagues after crossing the picket line.
Word forms
| base form | cross the picket line |
|---|---|
| past tense | crossed the picket line |
| present participle | crossing the picket line |
Common combinations
- cross a picket line
- Some employees decided to cross the picket line.
- refuse to cross the picket line
- The drivers refused to cross the picket line.
- crossing the picket line for work
- Crossing the picket line for work can lead to conflict with strikers.
- be accused of crossing the picket line
- She was accused of crossing the picket line during the strike.
Synonyms and how they differ
- strikebreaking
- A broader term for working during a strike; 'crossing the picket line' focuses on the physical act of passing the strikers.
- scabbing
- An informal and disapproving term for the same action; 'crossing the picket line' is more neutral.
Commonly confused: crossing the picket line or picket line?
crossing the picket line vs picket line
The picket line is the group of strikers itself; crossing it is the action of going past them.
Practice
What does 'crossing the picket line' mean?
Choose one answer.
Crossing the picket line means passing the striking workers, often to work, which is seen as not supporting the strike. The other options are literal or unrelated.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “crossing the picket line”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.