draw the line


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draw

 (drô)
v. drew (dro͞o), drawn (drôn), draw·ing, draws
v.tr.
1.
a. To cause to move after or toward one by applying continuous force; drag: drew the chair closer to the table; a team of horses drawing a wagon. See Synonyms at pull.
b. To cause to move in a given direction or to a given position, as by leading: The teacher drew the children into the room to see the decorations.
c. To move or pull so as to cover or uncover something: draw the curtains.
2. To cause to flow forth: a pump drawing water; a blow that drew blood.
3. To suck or take in (air, for example); inhale.
4. To require (a specified depth of water) for floating: a boat drawing 18 inches.
5. To take or pull out: drew a gun from beneath the counter; drew out a fat wallet.
6.
a. To extract or take for one's own use: draw strength from one's friends.
b. To make (tea) by steeping.
7. To eviscerate; disembowel: a traitor to the king who was drawn and quartered.
8.
a. To cause to come by attracting; attract: afraid the casino will draw undesirable elements to the town.
b. To select or take in from a given group, type, or region: draw clients from all levels of society.
9. To bring to a certain condition or action; lead: drawn to despair; drew them to resign.
10. To bring about deliberately; provoke: draw enemy fire; draw a penalty on an opponent.
11. To evoke as a response; elicit: a performance that drew jeers from the audience.
12. To earn; gain: deposits that draw interest at a rate of 5 percent.
13.
a. To withdraw (money).
b. To use (a check, for example) when paying.
c. To receive on a regular basis or at a specified time: draw a pension.
14. To take or receive by chance: draw lots.
15. Games
a. To take (cards) from a dealer or central stack.
b. To force (a card) to be played.
16. To end or leave (a contest) tied or undecided.
17. Sports
a. To hit or strike (a billiard ball, for example) so as to give it backspin.
b. To hit (a golf ball) with a draw.
18.
a. To make tense or taut: drew the rope across the ravine.
b. To pull back the string of (a bow).
c. To distort the shape of: He drew his face into a scowl.
19.
a. To flatten, stretch, or mold (metal) by hammering or die stamping.
b. To shape or elongate (a wire, for example) by pulling through dies.
20.
a. To inscribe (a line or lines) with a pencil or other marking implement.
b. To make a likeness of on a surface, using mostly lines; depict with lines: drew a map of the area; drawing landscapes and still lifes.
c. To portray in writing or speech; depict with words: draws moving scenes of ghetto life.
21. To formulate or devise from evidence or data at hand: draw a comparison.
22. To compose or write out in legal format: draw a deed.
v.intr.
1. To proceed or move steadily: a ship drawing near the shore.
2. To attract customers or spectators: The new play is drawing well.
3. To pour forth liquid: The patient's veins don't draw easily.
4. To cause suppuration.
5. To take in a draft of air: The flue isn't drawing.
6. To steep in or as if in the manner of tea.
7. To pull out a weapon for use.
8. To use or call upon part of a fund or supply: drawing on an account; drew from the experience of fellow workers.
9. To contract or tighten: material that draws when it dries.
10. To conclude a contest without either side winning; tie: The chess players drew in 32 moves.
11. To make a likeness with lines on a surface; sketch.
n.
1.
a. An act of drawing.
b. The result of drawing.
2. Something drawn, especially a lot, card, or cards drawn at random.
3. Sports & Games
a. The arrangement of competitors in a tournament in which the matchups are made at random.
b. A matchup or opponent in such a tournament.
4. An inhalation, especially through a pipe or other smoking implement.
5. One that attracts interest, customers, or spectators: a singer who is a popular draw.
6. The movable part of a drawbridge.
7. A special advantage; an edge: have the draw on one's enemies.
8. A contest ending without either side winning.
9. A small natural depression that water drains into; a shallow gully.
10. Football A play in which the quarterback drops back as if to pass and then runs or hands off to a running back.
11. Sports A face-off.
12.
a. Games A draw shot.
b. Sports A moderate, usually controlled hook in golf.
Phrasal Verbs:
draw away
To move ahead of competitors.
draw back
To retreat.
draw down
1. To reduce or deplete by consuming or spending: drew down our food reserves.
2. To reduce (military forces in a specific deployment).
draw on
To approach: as evening draws on.
draw out
1. To prolong; protract.
2. To induce to speak freely: managed to draw the shy child out.
draw up
1. To compose or write in a set form; write out: draw up a contract; draw up a list.
2. To bring (troops, for example) into order.
3. To bring or come to a halt.
4. To bring (oneself) into an erect posture, often as an expression of dignity or indignation.
5. Chiefly Southern US To shrink when washed. Used of clothes.
Idioms:
draw a blank
To fail to find or remember something.
draw and quarter
1. To execute (a prisoner) by tying each limb to a horse and driving the horses in different directions.
2. To disembowel and dismember after hanging.
3. Informal To punish severely: The teenager was drawn and quartered for wrecking the family's only car.
draw straws
To decide by a lottery with straws of unequal lengths.
draw the line
1. To decide firmly an arbitrary boundary between two things: "Where do you draw the line between your own decisions and those of your superiors?" (Robert Marion).
2. To decide firmly the limit of what one will tolerate or participate in: The officer committed fraud but drew the line at blackmail.

[Middle English drauen, from Old English dragan.]
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Verb1.draw the line - reasonably object (to) or set a limit (on); "I draw the line when it comes to lending money to friends!"
confine, limit, throttle, trammel, restrain, restrict, bound - place limits on (extent or access); "restrict the use of this parking lot"; "limit the time you can spend with your friends"
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
Translations
يُحَدِّد، يَرْسُمُ حَدّا
stanovit hranicivymezit
meghúzza a határt
setja sér takmörk
stanoviť hranicu
sınır çizmeksınırlandırmak

draw

(droː) past tense drew (druː) : past participle drawn verb
1. to make a picture or pictures (of), usually with a pencil, crayons etc. During his stay in hospital he drew a great deal; Shall I draw a cow?
2. to pull along, out or towards oneself. She drew the child towards her; He drew a gun suddenly and fired; All water had to be drawn from a well; The cart was drawn by a pony.
3. to move (towards or away from someone or something). The car drew away from the kerb; Christmas is drawing closer.
4. to play (a game) in which neither side wins. The match was drawn / We drew at 1–1.
5. to obtain (money) from a fund, bank etc. to draw a pension / an allowance.
6. to open or close (curtains).
7. to attract. She was trying to draw my attention to something.
noun
1. a drawn game. The match ended in a draw.
2. an attraction. The acrobats' act should be a real draw.
3. the selecting of winning tickets in a raffle, lottery etc. a prize draw.
4. an act of drawing, especially a gun. He's quick on the draw.
ˈdrawing noun
(the art of making) a picture made with a pencil, crayon etc. the drawings of Leonardo da Vinci; I am no good at drawing.
drawn adjective
1. (of curtains) pulled together or closed. The curtains were drawn, although it was still daylight.
2. (of a game etc) neither won nor lost. a drawn match.
3. (of a blade etc) pulled out of its sheath. a drawn sword.
4. (of a person) strained and tired. His face was pale and drawn.
ˈdrawback noun
a disadvantage. There are several drawbacks to his plan.
ˈdrawbridge noun
a bridge (at the entrance to a castle) which can be pulled up or let down.
ˈdrawing-pin noun
(American ˈthumbtack) a pin with a broad, flat head used for fastening paper to a board etc.
ˈdrawstring noun
a cord threaded through the top of a bag etc for closing it.
draw a blank
to be unsuccessful in a search, inquiry etc.
draw a conclusion from
to come to a conclusion after thinking about (what one has learned). Don't draw any hasty conclusions from what I've said!
draw in
(of a car etc) to come to a halt at the side of the road.
draw the line
to fix a limit especially for what one is prepared to do.
draw/cast lots
to decide who is to do etc something by drawing names out of a box etc. Five of us drew lots for the two pop-concert tickets.
draw off
to pour out (liquid) from a large container. The barman drew off a pint of beer.
draw on
to use (money, strength, memory etc) as a source. I'll have to draw on my savings.
draw on
1. to pull on. He drew on his gloves.
2. to come nearer. Night drew on.
draw out
1. to take (money) from a bank. I drew out $40 yesterday.
2. to make longer. We drew out the journey as much as we could but we still arrived early.
3. (of a car etc) to move into the middle of the road from the side.
draw up
1. (of a car etc) to stop. We drew up outside their house.
2. to arrange in an acceptable form or order. They drew up the soldiers in line; The solicitor drew up a contract for them to sign.
3. to move closer. Draw up a chair!
4. to extend (oneself) into an upright position. He drew himself up to his full height.
long drawn out
going on for a long time. The meeting was long drawn out; a long-drawn-out meeting/scream.
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.
References in classic literature ?
'It's necessary to draw the line somewheres, my fine feller,' replied the principal.
But it is not always easy to draw the line and decide to which class a play belongs.
It's all right about the dogs, but we must draw the line somewhere."
Our greatest danger is that in the great leap from slavery to freedom we may overlook the fact that the masses of us are to live by the productions of our hands, and fail to keep in mind that we shall prosper in proportion as we learn to dignify and glorify common labour and put brains and skill into the common occupations of life; shall prosper in proportion as we learn to draw the line between the superficial and the substantial, the ornamental gewgaws of life and the useful.
She has always tried to draw the line between partisan politics and her intrinsically propoor and prohuman Christian missionary commitment.
Compellingly relevant and effortlessly readable, Draw the Line examines friendship and love and bravery in a way that feels new.--Lisa Martincik.