between the lines

phrase

1

: by implication : in an indirect way

2

: by way of inference

Examples of between the lines in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

But this isn’t your average tennis court, with a chandelier somehow hanging from above and instead of grass or clay, there’s a damask carpet design laid between the lines. — Michael Saponara, Billboard, 9 Oct. 2026

On a warm and sunny September day, not much action between the lines had occurred before then. — Chad Bishop, AJC.com, 29 Sep. 2026

Especially here in Italy with the teams defending so well with less space between the lines. — James Horncastle, New York Times, 23 Sep. 2026

No one will string the words together and actually say it out loud, but as former players and Campbell tap-dance around the uncomfortable question about what’s changed, the message hovering between the lines is not difficult to read. — Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1849, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for between the lines

• airlines
• aligns
• alkynes
• alpines
• assigns
• baselines
• bloodlines
• bovines
• canines
• carbines
• coastlines
• combines