draw a line in the sand
Word Rarity
Uncommon
Frequency: Zipf frequency 4.26 in modern English
26
Scrabble Score
18
Letters
2
Syllables
11
Unique Chars
Meaning
verb
To lay down a challenge; to provide a test of commitment (often one which carries a high risk) to a cause.
Intransitive verb
verb
To create a real or artificial boundary or distinction between (two places, people or things).
Example Sentences
- ""Well," Judd said, "what's the deal. You in or out?" "I have to decide right now?" "We have a meeting with Bruce tonight and church tomorrow morning. You go with us tonight and you promise to go tomorrow, or you move out this afternoon." "The man's drawing a line in the sand for you," Lionel said. "Lionel!" Vicki scolded. "I'm just sayin', the line has been drawn. You crossing the line, Ryan? Or are you with us?""
- "2007, Daniel Pyne, Glenn Gers (scriptwriters), Fracture, WILLY: It doesn't have to stick: we just need to get a court order for now - to keep Crawford from pulling the plug! With all the brain-power here, I'm sure somebody can come up with a pretext or call in a favor. Then we can tie this up in court while we arrange a state-appointed conservatorship - so we can protect her while we fight him on - NIKKI: What's the point, Willy? WILLY: The point?! [Willy stares.] Because she's drawn a line in the sand. One he already crossed, without truly understanding... and now he's standing out there alone."
- "And Jesus draws a line in the sand and says,' He that is without sin among you, let him cast the first stone.""
- "But when it came to marriage and children, she was in, and he, at twenty-eight, was out. She had said something like, "It's time to take this relationship to the next level or end it completely." You don't want to be drawing a line in the sand in front of a young fighter pilot."
- "At some point you ask, "Where do we draw a line in the sand between deconstruction as desertification of God and as desertion of God?" There is no line."
- "Could it be, that way back, early in this relationship, consciously in my mind, I chose to set a boundary or to draw a line in the sand between this person and myself? This line meant that I would not allow the person to come any closer to me, or my seeming secrets, than that line in my mind."
Etymology
Unknown. In the US, it is commonly accepted as a reference to the action of William B. Travis, who, in 1836, while commanding the defenders of the Alamo and contemplating a demand for surrender, drew a line in the sand and asked those willing to remain and defend the Alamo to their deaths to step across.