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.
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 businessgive someone hell