give someone line
The phrase "give someone line" originates from fishing, where it means to let out more line for a hooked fish to tire itself out. It has evolved into an idiom used in various contexts.
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Definition
B2General
(idiomatic)To provide someone with more freedom or leeway in their actions or decisions.
Example
- His manager decided to give him some line to see how he would handle the project independently.
- Parents sometimes give their children line to help them learn responsibility.
C1General
(idiomatic, dated)To allow a person more liberty until it is convenient to stop or check them.
Example
- The detective gave the suspect some line, hoping he would lead them to the stolen goods.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "give someone line":
loop lineon the lineline outdown lineline gunlay on the lineplain lineledger lineup lineline upgive someone a ringout of linelet someone have itgive it to someonein linecross the linegive someone enough ropegive someone a breakgive someone a handenemy linebody lineback linegive someone the business