line of fire
noun phrase
: the place where bullets are being shot
Some civilians got caught in the line of fire.
Examples of line of fire in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
With 17 museums, a garden, the Archives of American Art, and a zoo, the Smithsonian is sprawling, eclectic, and in President Trump’s line of fire.
—
Brian T. Allen, National Review, 3 Apr. 2025
The department’s attempt to place the federal government itself in the lawsuits’ line of fire instead of Mr. Trump hinges on whether lawyers can persuade the federal judge overseeing the suits, Amit P. Mehta, that Mr. Trump was in fact acting in his official capacity as president on Jan. 6.
—Alan Feuer, New York Times, 22 Mar. 2025
Best to exit the scene and give the rest of us a fighting chance away from the line of fire.
—Andy Andersen, Vulture, 21 Mar. 2025
Residents are not currently in the line of fire, but officials warned that people in the vicinity should be prepared in case evacuations become necessary.
—Landon Mion, Fox News, 9 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for line of fire
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Brian T. Allen, National Review, 3 Apr. 2025
The department’s attempt to place the federal government itself in the lawsuits’ line of fire instead of Mr. Trump hinges on whether lawyers can persuade the federal judge overseeing the suits, Amit P. Mehta, that Mr. Trump was in fact acting in his official capacity as president on Jan. 6.
—Alan Feuer, New York Times, 22 Mar. 2025
Best to exit the scene and give the rest of us a fighting chance away from the line of fire.
—Andy Andersen, Vulture, 21 Mar. 2025
Residents are not currently in the line of fire, but officials warned that people in the vicinity should be prepared in case evacuations become necessary.
—Landon Mion, Fox News, 9 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for line of fire
Cite this Entry
“Line of fire.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/line%20of%20fire. Accessed 10 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share