fine line

American  

[fahyn lahyn] / ˈfaɪn ˈlaɪn /

noun

1. a small, barely perceptible difference.

   There's often a fine line between helping and interfering.

---

idioms

1. walk a fine line,

   1. to act carefully in order to avoid the wrong outcome or maintain a delicate balance.

      Moderators walk a fine line between censorship and protecting their site's users.

      I had to walk a fine line between maintaining the peace and doing my job.

   2. to act in a way that risks a disastrous outcome.

      You’re walking a fine line, buddy—if you don’t start watching your mouth, you’ll lose the respect of your kids.

Etymology

Origin of fine line

First recorded in 1845–50

Example Sentences

Meanwhile people without family abroad to send them dollars or order food for them online live an increasingly precarious existence, like Maritza Gomez, a 62-year-old chemist.

From Barron's • Jul. 3, 2026

A combination of timing — the online live music video landscape was wide open during its infancy — expert musical curation, and even the recognizable backdrop of cluttered shelves helped attract its audience.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 1, 2024

This kind of jubilant, unhinged environment is what people who spend all day online live for — even if, ultimately, we’ve all been here before and we have a sense of where it’s inevitably going.

From Los Angeles Times • May 4, 2023

The interview is available for anyone to watch online live.

From New York Times • Nov. 30, 2022

A large crowd, which had gathered to watch an online live broadcast of the later Queen's state funeral in the UK, is seen singing along to the tune.

From BBC • Sep. 20, 2022