fine line
noun
: a very small difference
There's a fine line between being helpful and being intrusive.
There's sometimes only a very fine line between genius and madness.
Examples of fine line in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
As a result, Iran, through its axis clients—including Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthis in Yemen, and Shiite militias in Iraq and Syria—has tried to walk a fine line between responding to the demand for action and preventing axis responses to the Israeli offensive from spinning out of control.
—
Joost Hiltermann, Foreign Affairs, 28 Mar. 2024
There’s this really fine line between rejuvenation and these cellular processes going awry.
—Matt Reynolds, WIRED, 18 Mar. 2024
Adlon knows how to walk that fine line between sweet and vulgar, which comes in handy here since Glazer and Rabinowitz’s script is determined to milk every ounce of humor out of every ounce of bodily fluid that may be spilled, squirted or secreted by expectant moms.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 10 Mar. 2024
In the script, the characters talk about that fine line between authenticity and kitsch that can only be achieved when everything is balanced just right, so that the work of art is true to the artist’s vision but simple and clear enough that an audience can easily comprehend it.
—Leslie Felperin, The Hollywood Reporter, 19 Feb. 2024
Since then, Democrats have walked a fine line, aiming to respond to voters’ public safety concerns without stoking fears about crime that could hand Republicans talking points.
—Ana Ley, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2024
What’s the fine line between an overshirt and a shirt that’s just big enough to be worn above another?
—Eric Twardzik, Robb Report, 23 Feb. 2024
There’s a fine line between enticing the audience with a promise for answers and confusing them with an amorphous mass of hints and atmospherics.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 21 Feb. 2024
The West has always depended on atmospheric rivers for much of the annual rainfall, but there’s a fine line between too much and not enough.
—USA TODAY, 7 Feb. 2024
Joost Hiltermann, Foreign Affairs, 28 Mar. 2024
There’s this really fine line between rejuvenation and these cellular processes going awry.
—Matt Reynolds, WIRED, 18 Mar. 2024
Adlon knows how to walk that fine line between sweet and vulgar, which comes in handy here since Glazer and Rabinowitz’s script is determined to milk every ounce of humor out of every ounce of bodily fluid that may be spilled, squirted or secreted by expectant moms.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 10 Mar. 2024
In the script, the characters talk about that fine line between authenticity and kitsch that can only be achieved when everything is balanced just right, so that the work of art is true to the artist’s vision but simple and clear enough that an audience can easily comprehend it.
—Leslie Felperin, The Hollywood Reporter, 19 Feb. 2024
Since then, Democrats have walked a fine line, aiming to respond to voters’ public safety concerns without stoking fears about crime that could hand Republicans talking points.
—Ana Ley, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2024
What’s the fine line between an overshirt and a shirt that’s just big enough to be worn above another?
—Eric Twardzik, Robb Report, 23 Feb. 2024
There’s a fine line between enticing the audience with a promise for answers and confusing them with an amorphous mass of hints and atmospherics.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 21 Feb. 2024
The West has always depended on atmospheric rivers for much of the annual rainfall, but there’s a fine line between too much and not enough.
—USA TODAY, 7 Feb. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'fine line.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near fine line
Cite this Entry
“Fine line.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fine%20line. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
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