get a line on

Idioms and Phrases

Also, have a line on . Acquire information about something or someone, come to know. For example, Sue got a line on some possible tennis partners , or The realtor has a line on a number of vacant apartments . Similarly, give someone a line on means “provide information about,” as in The librarian gave me a line on the books I would need . This idiom uses line in the sense of “a direct course.” [c. 1900] Also see get a fix on .