battle line

American  

noun

1. the line along which warring troops meet.

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battle line British  

noun

1. the line along which troops are positioned for battle

2. conflict or argument is about to occur between opposing people or groups

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Etymology

Origin of battle line

First recorded in 1805–15

Example Sentences

Though the film isn’t of much aesthetic distinction, it tells a story of such robustly drawn characters and bright battle lines that it feels almost ready-made for a Broadway-musical adaptation.

From The Wall Street Journal

"This is coming like a tsunami and we are the first people on the battle line," said Sherry Brown, a background actor.

From Barron's

That bull market may still be raging, but within the brokerage industry the battle lines have been drawn.

From The Wall Street Journal

"I said: cut and stop at the battle line. Go home. Stop fighting, stop killing people."

From BBC

"I think the battle lines have been drawn publicly and everyone knows where the unions stand," says sports lawyer Ben Cisneros of Morgan Sports Law.

From BBC