fine line
Americannoun
idioms
Etymology
Origin of fine line
First recorded in 1845–50
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.
“With neighborhoods like this that are so densely populated, it is really always a fine line with how the businesses interact with the people who live here,” Mattei said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 17, 2026
There is a fine line between being fresh and being undercooked, though.
From BBC ● Jun. 17, 2026
You are walking a fine line between expectation and, in a worst-case scenario, entitlement.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 16, 2026
The country, which has walked a fine line between Washington and Tehran, is losing its footing as an Arab state trusted by both sides.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 4, 2026
The fine line between safety and danger was probably all about lucky connections.
From "A Thousand Sisters" by Elizabeth Wein
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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.