on/along the lines of...

along the lines of (something)

Roughly similar to something; like something, though not exactly the same. Well, that's along the lines of what I have in mind for the new kitchen, but there are a few tweaks you need to make before it's right. This movie is along the lines of your old favorites. For my new car, I'm thinking of something along the lines of a sedan, but I'm open to suggestions.

See also: line, of

on the lines of (something)

Approximately or imperfectly similar to something; very like something, but not quite the same. Well, that's on the lines of what I have in mind for the new kitchen, but there are a few tweaks you need to make before it's right.

See also: line, of, on

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

along the lines of

Also, on the lines of. Roughly similar or in keeping with. For example, We told the architect we want a design along the lines of his own house but smaller, or Jane asked the caterer for a menu on the lines of the Morgans' wedding reception. This idiom uses line in the sense of "a direction or procedure," a usage dating from the early 1600s.

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.

on/along the lines of ...

,

on/along (the) ... lines

(spoken)
1 in the way that is mentioned: The new system will operate along the same lines as the old one.
2 similar to something; in a similar way, style, etc. to something: I’m looking for a silver teapot, something along the lines of this one here.
3 used for giving a summary of something you have read or heard: ‘What did he say in his defence?’ ‘Something along the lines of his being so drunk that he didn’t realize what he was doing.’

See also: line, on

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