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
The fact that gender representation in Judy's books is pretty binary, down-the-line binary as our sex educator Rachel Lotus says in the film.
From Salon ● Apr. 23, 2023
It lasted 75 seconds and contained 19 more strokes than the second-longest rally of these entire two weeks, culminating with a down-the-line backhand by Ruud that drew a netted forehand in response.
From Seattle Times ● Sep. 9, 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
Yet another lob produced yet another overhead, again back to Alcaraz’s left, and this time he came up with a down-the-line backhand passing shot that Ramos-Vinola volleyed into the net.
From Washington Times ● May 25, 2022
These lads will carry the team until you remember to pick up the house phone and cash in a transfer a few months down the line.
From BBC ● Sep. 16, 2026
A lack of access to all listings could also affect home values down the line.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 27, 2026
Roberts didn’t rule out the possibility of Rushing being activated as a designated hitter down the line.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 22, 2026
Going beyond that "creates all kinds of compounding problems that the Navy then has to deal with down the line."
From Barron's ● Aug. 13, 2026
Alice works her way underneath the tree in crouch position and starts passing bags and boxes down the line, and everyone talks at once.
From "Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda" by Becky Albertalli
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.
