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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

Nico Hoerner’s soft line drive dropped into the right-field grass of Wrigley Field, scoring pinch runner Nick Madrigal from third base and giving the Cubs a 3-2 victory in the bottom of the 10th.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 10, 2023

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

“A soft line drive to left, two softies to right and a ground ball up the middle,” Cubs manager Joe Maddon said.

From Washington Times • Aug. 30, 2015

Making one end fast to the teakwood sill he went down hand over hand, his strong hard palms gripping the soft line.

From Caste by Fraser, William Alexander

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