draw the line
phrase
variants
or draw a line
1
: to fix an arbitrary (see arbitrary sense 1b) boundary between things that tend to intermingle
drawing a line between good and bad art
2
: to fix a boundary excluding what one will not tolerate or engage in
helps clean the house but draws the line at washing windows
Examples of draw the line in a Sentence
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Courts have traditionally given presidential administrations of both parties wide discretion over immigration policy, even if the justices drew the line at letting Trump redefine who is an American through an executive order.
—
Maureen Groppe,
USA Today,
1 July 2026
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Maureen Groppe,
USA Today,
1 July 2026
Cite this Entry
“Draw the line.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/draw%20the%20line. Accessed 3 Jul. 2026.
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