Idioms

in the line of fire

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in the line of fire

In a position to encounter something unpleasant, such as punishment. You'll be in the line of fire if the boss finds out you signed off on that printing error. The director will be in the line of fire for his involvement in scandal. You can bet you'll be in the line of fire if you don't get this project done on time!

See also: fire, line, of

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

line of fire, in the

In the path of an an attack, as in Whenever Audrey and Jeff quarrel, I take care to get out of the line of fire. This expression, dating from the mid-1800s, originally referred to the path of a bullet or other projectile, a meaning also still current. Also see firing line.

See also: line, of

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

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References in periodicals archive

(The Lancaster office itself did not even provide abortions; simply offering family-planning services, including referrals for women seeking abortions, was enough to place it in the line of fire.) While most American women consider having an abortion at one time or another in their lives, the anti-abortion activists have succeeded in placing a surreal and alienating climate of fear around this very private, commonplace decision.

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