soft line

American

noun

a position or policy, as in politics, that is moderate and flexible.

soft line British

noun

a moderate flexible attitude or policy

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

soft-line adjective
soft-liner noun

Etymology

Origin of soft line

First recorded in 1965–70

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.

The revolutionary regime, desperate to survive, is taking a surprisingly soft line with today’s rebels.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 8, 2026

That helps to explain why the regime is so loath to take a soft line on the issue of dress codes.

From Washington Post • Sep. 24, 2022

Alcantara retired his first 14 batters before Rengifo’s soft line drive to right.

From Seattle Times • Jul. 5, 2022

That soft line has been an oft-repeated talking point of Taliban leaders in recent days.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 20, 2021

From the very fair brow and rosy cheek and soft line of the lips, Pitt's eye at last went down to the book she held before him.

From A Red Wallflower by Warner, Susan

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023