down-the-line

[ doun-thuh-lahyn ]
/ ˈdaʊn ðəˈlaɪn /

adjective

complete, full, unreserved, or whole-hearted: a down-the-line endorsement.

adverb

fully; completely; whole-heartedly: Will you support it down-the-line?

Origin of down-the-line

First recorded in 1895–1900

Words nearby down-the-line

Definition for down the line (2 of 2)

Origin of line

1
before 1000; Middle English li(g)ne cord, rope, stroke, series, guiding rule, partly < Old French ligne ≪ Latin līnea, noun use of feminine of līneus flaxen (orig. applied to string), equivalent to līn(um) flax (see line2) + -eus -eous, partly continuing Old English līne string, row, series < Latin, as above

OTHER WORDS FROM line

lin·a·ble, line·a·ble, adjective line·less, adjective line·like, adjective

British Dictionary definitions for down the line (1 of 2)

line 1
/ (laɪn) /

noun

verb

See also lines, line-up

Derived forms of line

linable or lineable, adjective lined, adjective linelike, adjective liny or liney, adjective

Word Origin for line

C13: partly from Old French ligne, ultimately from Latin līnea, n use of līneus flaxen, from līnum flax; partly from Old English līn, ultimately also from Latin līnum flax

British Dictionary definitions for down the line (2 of 2)

line 2
/ (laɪn) /

verb (tr)

to attach an inside covering to (a garment, curtain, etc), as for protection, to hide the seaming, or so that it should hang well
to cover or fit the inside of to line the walls with books
to fill plentifully a purse lined with money
to reinforce the back of (a book) with fabric, paper, etc

Word Origin for line

C14: ultimately from Latin līnum flax, since linings were often made of linen

Medical definitions for down the line

line
[ līn ]

n.

Scientific definitions for down the line

line
[ līn ]

A geometric figure formed by a point moving in a fixed direction and in the reverse direction. The intersection of two planes is a line.♦ The part of a line that lies between two points on the line is called a line segment.

Cultural definitions for down the line

line

A set of points that have one dimension — length — but no width or height. (See coordinates.)

Idioms and Phrases with down the line (1 of 2)

down the line

1

Also, all along the line. All the way, throughout. For example, We've found numerous errors down the line. The first term dates from the mid-1900s, the variant from the second half of the 1800s.

2

Also, down the road. At a future point or end. For example, Somewhere down the road I think he'll be elected to high office. [Second half of 1900s]

Idioms and Phrases with down the line (2 of 2)

line