party line

American  

[pahr-tee lahyn, pahr-tee lahyn] / ˈpɑr ti ˈlaɪn, ˈpɑr ti ˌlaɪn /

noun

1. the authorized, prescribed policies and practices of a group, especially of the Communist Party, usually followed by the members without deviation; official philosophy or credo.

2. the guiding policy, tenets, or practices of a political party.

   The judge was chosen on party lines.

3. a telephone line connecting the telephones of a number of subscribers by one circuit to a central office, used in some rural areas.

4. the boundary line separating adjoining properties.

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party line British  

noun

1. a telephone line serving two or more subscribers

2. the policies or dogma of a political party, to which all members are expected to subscribe

3. the boundary between adjoining property

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party line Idioms  

1. The official policy of an organization or government, as in The current party line opposes legalized abortion in all cases. This term, dating from about 1830, was originally used for a political party's official policy but in the mid-1900s was almost exclusively applied to the rigid dicta of the Soviet Communist Party. Since then it has returned to looser use.

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Other Word Forms

• party-line adjective

Etymology

Origin of party line

An Americanism dating back to 1825–35

Example Sentences

But if the party line is some version of reforming the relatively young agency, nobody told Rep. Seth Moulton.

From Salon

MPs could vote freely throughout the process, meaning they did not have to follow a party line, and could decide whether or not to support the bill as a whole or particular amendments.

From BBC

McManus suggested that people’s love for their furry, feathery or scaly companions transcends party lines.

From Los Angeles Times

Voter trust in the upcoming midterm elections, meanwhile, has dropped off sharply, and across party lines, according to new research by the UC San Diego Center for Transparent and Trusted Elections.

From Los Angeles Times

However, opposition also crossed party lines — including from three former EPA administrators who served under Republican and Democratic administrations.

From Los Angeles Times