down-the-line
adjective
complete, full, unreserved, or whole-hearted.
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down-the-line
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down the line
down the line
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.
down-the-line
American
[doun-thuh-lahyn]
/ ˈdaʊn ðəˈlaɪn /
adjective
adverb
down the line
Idioms
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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.
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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]
Etymology
Origin of down-the-line
First recorded in 1895–1900
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.
See Examples For:
They cashed in on Kiké Hernández’s down-the-line double in the second inning, opening the scoring on Chris Taylor’s single in the next at-bat.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 30, 2024
After Khachanov surged late in the third to make things slightly more intriguing, Ruud broke to lead 2-1 in the fourth, ripping a down-the-line forehand winner from the doubles alley.
From Seattle Times ● Sep. 9, 2022
Originally, it was much more down-the-line slasher piece.
From Salon ● Jul. 4, 2022
A Williams return dropped just wide when she and Murray led 12-11, but she landed a backhand down-the-line winner to bring up another opportunity to close it out.
From BBC ● Jul. 3, 2022
When it ended with a down-the-line backhand from Nadal, he chucked his racket to the red clay he loves so much and covered his face with the taped-up fingers on both of his hands.
From Washington Times ● Jun. 5, 2022
They’re starting with an initial run of around 500 vinyl records, with plans to release the album on CD and cassette later down the line.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 14, 2026
They, too, are expected to keep interest rates on hold but to flag a risk of hikes further down the line due to rising oil prices.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 23, 2026
Cook's comments flagged greater concern over inflation than employment currently, implying that she could support a rate hike down the line.
From Barron's ● Jul. 15, 2026
"He can use his backhand down the line because Cobolli likes to use his forehand from the backhand corner quite a lot."
From BBC ● Jul. 8, 2026
They ordered everyone to line up: men, women, even children younger than I. They walked up and down the line trying to make eye contact with people.
From "A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier" by Ishmael Beah
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
