LINE UP THE LITTLE WORD

Line up the little words

By LUCILLE DASS

LINE – “a long thin mark on the surface of something” (CIDE) – is capable of stretching itself, beyond linear style, to combine with ‘little words’ (whose use can become problematic) to perform linguistic stunts both literal and literary.

Apart from what results in partnership with the little words, as a stand-alone the word lends itself to multiple meanings when variously used. The guide words in any good dictionary will indicate this.

Here is an exercise that requires you only to put in place those little words that help to keep each sentence in line with its intended meaning. (Repeat use of the little words is allowed).

1. You guessed it, dear Editor. This activity sprang to mind when I heard the announcement of the new cabinet line-___.

2. Everyone knew that Najib was ___ ___ line ___ replace Pak Lah as the sixth prime minister of the country.

3. ___ line ___ the company’s policy, you are required to attend all meetings.

4. The choice of Jamal as a credible witness is crucial as he is our last line ___ defence in this case.

5. Angie is super-efficient but she tends to act independently too often. She needs to be brought ___ line a bit.

6. Rosy told her husband that it was not worth laying his job ___ the line by disclosing the truth now.

7. Not all the students in his class could read ___ the lines to sufficiently appreciate the writer’s intention.

8. Could you please stay ___ the line while I check the manager’s appointment diary? Thanks.

9. Newcomer Gopal has little chance of winning because he is lined ___ ___ a veteran politician.

10. By constantly reminding them how much they would benefit by supporting him, the chairman made sure no one stepped ___ ___ line.

11. Now that you’re a member of the staff, your father expects you to fall ___ line like the rest of the employees.

12. Johan felt that the best way to keep peace at home was to take the line ___ least resistance ___ his wife and do whatever she wanted him to do.

13. Kirpal supported his son’s campaign right ___ the line to ensure his victory.

14. Given the spate of crime on the streets, don’t you think the authorities should take a firm line __ the sale of guns to the public?

15. Believe it or not, before she quit, Susan laid it ___ the line that the company would never advance if the employees were not appreciated enough.

16. Rani went from shop to shop looking for a vase that was something ___ the lines ___ the one she accidentally broke.

17. His boss told him that he would surely be ___ line ___ a promotion if he completed the project in time.

18. What do you expect? With an incompetent adviser like that, he was doomed to foul things up somewhere ___ the line.

19. Hassan was taken prisoner while on a reconnaissance mission ___ enemy lines.

20. When the media criticises the government’s policy, the Prime Minister is undoubtedly ___ the firing line.

Answers:

1. line-up – a group of people brought together as a team

2. next in line to – person likely to be or get something

3. in line with – in agreement with something

4. line of defence – position of defence

5. bring somebody/something into line – make somebody/something conform

6. lay something on the line –place at risk

7. read between the lines – find or look for hidden meaning

8. stay on the line – stay connected on the telephone

9. line up against – oppose/compete

10. step out of line – break the rules

11. fall into line – behave/function like the rest

12. take the line of least resistance with someone – choose action that causes least trouble

13. down the line – all the way/completely

14. take a firm line on something – act decisively when dealing with a problem

15. lay it on the line – tell something in an honest and direct way

16. along the lines of – similar to

17. in line for something – likely to receive it

18. somewhere along the line – at some particular stage

19. behind enemy lines – position closest to the enemy

20. in the firing line – in a position to be attacked