dotted line

noun

1. a line on a contract or similar document for a party's signature.
2. a line at which a sheet of paper is perforated or a piece of it is to be detached.

dotted line

noun

1. a line of dots or dashes on a form or document
2. sign on the dotted line
   to agree formally, esp by signing one's name on a document

Word History and Origins

Origin of dotted line¹

First recorded in 1770–75

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. sign on the dotted line, to agree fully to terms or conditions.
2. signature on the dotted line, full agreement to terms and conditions.

Example Sentences

The environment around England's last camp - when they lost to Greece at Wembley before beating Finland in Helsinki - was chaotic and unsatisfactory, with mixed messaging from Carsley when he appeared to question his own credentials for the job, then insisted he was not ruling himself out of the running only for the FA to reveal at Tuchel's Wembley unveiling that he had signed on the dotted line two days before the debacle against the side they face in Athens on Wednesday.

From BBC

That means, people walk into recruiting offices and sign on the dotted line to potentially serve in combat, risking their lives in the service of the country.

From Salon

“Many of these men and women, who served their country, chose to do something greater than themselves. They woke up one morning, they signed on the dotted line, they put their right hand up, and they chose to serve their country. And that’s an experience that Donald Trump has not had. And I think that might be something that he thinks about a lot.”

From Salon

“They’ve written that down, and they’ve signed on the dotted line. This reform is about making sure that those promises get fulfilled.”

From Los Angeles Times

Police said the guns seized in the US were a "dotted line" to people's wellbeing in Canada.

From BBC