Meaning & use
drew the line
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“drew the line” is a form of “draw the line”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
phraseidiom
Set a limit on what you are willing to do or accept, and refuse to go beyond it.
Grammar: Used as a complete verb phrase; it does not take an object directly, but is often followed by 'at' plus the limit.
Patterns
- draw the line at something
- draw the line at doing something
- somebody has to draw the line somewhere
She drew the line at lending him money again.
I don't mind helping you move, but I drew the line at painting the whole house.
My parents let me stay out late, but they drew the line at midnight.
phraseidiom
Make a clear separation between two things, showing that they are not the same.
Grammar: Often followed by 'between' when naming the two things being separated.
Patterns
- draw the line between something and something
- draw a line between something and something
The editor drew the line between honest reporting and gossip.
Good teachers draw the line between helping students and doing the work for them.
Word forms
| base form | draw the line |
|---|---|
| third person singular | draws the line |
| past tense | drew the line |
| past participle | drawn the line |
| -ing form | drawing the line |
Common combinations
- draw the line at something
- He drew the line at working on Sundays.
- draw the line between A and B
- It is hard to draw the line between confidence and arrogance.
- have to draw the line somewhere
- You have to draw the line somewhere, or people will take advantage.
- refuse to draw the line
- The manager refused to draw the line on overtime.
- cross the line
- His joke crossed the line and upset everyone.
Synonyms and how they differ
- set a limit
- A plain, general phrase; it fits any kind of restriction, while 'draw the line' usually suggests a firm personal or moral boundary.
- put your foot down
- More forceful and informal; it stresses refusing firmly, not just naming where the boundary is.
- make a distinction
- Neutral and slightly formal; it fits the 'separate two things' sense better than the 'refuse to go further' sense.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: drew the line or draw a line under? drew the line or cross the line?
drew the line vs draw a line under
This means to end something and stop discussing it, not to set a limit. 'We drew a line under the argument' means we moved on.
drew the line vs cross the line
This means to go too far and break an accepted limit, the opposite direction from setting the limit in the first place.
Practice
My boss lets us leave early on Fridays, but she ______ at taking work home.
Choose one answer.
'Drew the line at' is the fixed idiom for refusing to go beyond a limit. 'Crossed the line' means the opposite — going too far — and 'drew a line' changes the fixed wording, which the idiom does not allow.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “drew the line”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.