draw the line

Cultural  

1. To set a limit, as of acceptable behavior: “Phil sometimes drank a few beers, but generally he knew when to draw the line.”

---

Example Sentences

The company has struggled to implement the policy consistently because of differing views on where to draw the line on users’ privacy, people familiar with the matter said.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 3, 2026

"This study shows that there's a speciation 'gray zone' that can make it hard to draw the line," Chan said.

From Science Daily • Mar. 9, 2026

“It’s hard not to be inspired by what people have done before you, but you also have to draw the line somewhere,” Finn says.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 4, 2026

And when we are looking at investments that are currently out of fashion, where do we draw the line?

From MarketWatch • Feb. 3, 2026

The ground was rutted from past rains, but had hardened in the late summer drought, so they had to give up on sneaker toes and draw the line with a stick.

From "Bridge to Terabithia" by Katherine Paterson