firing line

noun

1. Military.
   1. the positions at which troops are stationed to fire upon the enemy or targets.
   2. the troops firing from this line.
2. the forefront of any action or activity, especially a controversy.

firing line

noun

1. military
   1. the positions from which fire is delivered
   2. the soldiers occupying these positions
2. the leading or most advanced position in an activity

Word History and Origins

Origin of firing line¹

First recorded in 1880–85

Example Sentences

Promoter Eddie Hearn, who said he plans to leave before the main event, was also in the firing line with Paul calling him a "clout chaser".

From BBC

But now an even larger swathe of northern Israel is in the firing line.

From BBC

It seems she doesn’t want her words to be misconstrued, lest she end up back on the internet’s firing line.

From Los Angeles Times

This city will be in the firing line in the event of all-out war, along with the rest of southern Lebanon, a Hezbollah stronghold.

From BBC

But our planet wasn’t the only one in the solar firing line.

From New York Times