blue line: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Formal / Technical / Sports
Quick answer
What does “blue line” mean?
A blue-coloured line, often used for visual demarcation or guidance.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A blue-coloured line, often used for visual demarcation or guidance.
A boundary in ice hockey separating the defensive and neutral zones; a term for police presence or control; a specific line on a map, chart, or official document.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In the UK, 'blue line' is predominantly descriptive (e.g., a line on a map) or refers to police (from the colour of uniforms). In North America, the dominant association is with ice hockey.
Connotations
UK: Neutral/descriptive or related to authority. US/Canada: Strongly associated with sports (hockey) and rules.
Frequency
Far more frequent in North American English due to hockey culture. In UK English, it's a lower-frequency compound.
Grammar
How to Use “blue line” in a Sentence
The [NOUN] is marked by a blue line.[VERB] the blue line.The blue line of [NOUN].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “blue line” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The blue-line marking was faded.
- A blue-line bus service operates here.
American English
- He made a blue-line pass to the winger.
- The blue-line transit project is underway.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might refer to a specific guideline or boundary in a process chart.
Academic
Used in geography (cartography) or urban studies (transit lines).
Everyday
Descriptive use for any blue-coloured line.
Technical
Ice hockey rule: the line dividing zones. Also in engineering/design for specific markings.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “blue line”
Strong
Neutral
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “blue line”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “blue line”
- Using 'blue line' to mean 'queue for something blue' (incorrect). Confusing it with 'finish line' or 'red line'. Using it as a verb (e.g., 'to blue line something').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is a compound noun, typically written as two separate words: 'blue line'.
No, it is not standard to use 'blue line' as a verb. It functions as a noun or occasionally as an attributive adjective (e.g., blue-line defence).
It means the puck has moved from the neutral zone into the attacking zone. Players must not enter the attacking zone before the puck does, or it's an offside violation.
No, it is unrelated. The 'thin blue line' is an idiom representing the police as the barrier between order and social chaos.
A blue-coloured line, often used for visual demarcation or guidance.
Blue line is usually formal / technical / sports in register.
Blue line: in British English it is pronounced /ˌbluː ˈlaɪn/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌblu ˈlaɪn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “The thin blue line (police as barrier against chaos).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a hockey rink: the BLUE line keeps the BLUE (defensive) zone separate from the rest.
Conceptual Metaphor
BOUNDARIES ARE LINES; AUTHORITY IS A COLOUR (blue).
Practice
Quiz
What is the most common North American association for the term 'blue line'?