below the line
adverb
line131
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below the line
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below-the-line
below-the-lineadjectivedenoting the entries printed below the horizontal line on a company's profit-and-loss account that show how any profit is to be distributed
below the line
Americanadverb
Bridge.
below-the-line
British
adjective
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denoting the entries printed below the horizontal line on a company's profit-and-loss account that show how any profit is to be distributed
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(of an advertising campaign) employing sales promotions, direct marketing, in-store exhibitions and displays, trade shows, sponsorship, and merchandising that do not involve an advertising agency
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(in national accounts) below the horizontal line separating revenue from capital transactions Compare above-the-line
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
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He held a mix of above and below the line roles on projects, including the low-budget feature “Tag: The Assassination Game,” starring Linda Hamilton and Robert Carradine.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 24, 2026
But the prospect of a stretch without Tatum provided the perfect timing for the Celtics to duck below the line and clean up their finances.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 28, 2026
"Seeing this is already intimidating if you are below the line."
From BBC ● Apr. 15, 2025
The ball instead hit an overhang just below the line for a home run.
From Washington Times ● Jun. 5, 2023
I saw a certain second lieutenant doubling himself together so as to bring his head below the line of the heads of the men in front of him.
From Personal Recollections of the War of 1861 As Private, Sergeant and Lieutenant in the Sixty-First Regiment, New York Volunteer Infantry by Charles Augustus Fuller
The Directors Guild of America and the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, which represents below-the-line workers on film and TV sets, have also urged the company and the states to resolve the dispute.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 22, 2026
Originally known as CBS All Access, Paramount+ rebranded in 2021 and has had similarly limited awards success, with programs such as “1923,” “Tulsa King,” “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds” and “Picard” earning below-the-line recognition.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 1, 2026
Stanton says increase in operating profit suggests the airline’s core operations remained strong, but the final reported result carried the effect of disruption, financing, non-operating or below-the-line factors.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 20, 2026
For many comics shooting specials during the week the fest is in town, it’s also a chance to bring more work back to town for film crews and below-the-line workers who need jobs.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 29, 2026
As with its nominations in many of the below-the-line categories, the sound in “Dune: Part Two” is vital to establishing the film’s epic scope, rendering it more than deserving of winning the Oscar.
From Salon ● Feb. 28, 2025
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
