blue line

American  

noun

Ice Hockey.

1. either of two lines of the color blue that are parallel to and equidistant from the goal lines and divide the rink into three zones of equal size.

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Etymology

Origin of blue line

First recorded in 1925–30

Example Sentences

So when they did finally turn him out, he dragged himself to the blue line, and got on without paying, and he didn’t see any cops, and he didn’t get arrested.

From Slate • Jan. 27, 2026

Gavrikov, 29, emerged as a solid presence on the blue line, playing a career-high 82 games and posting the best goals-against average of the 17 defensemen to play at least 1,500 minutes.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 28, 2025

The Kings’ practice rink in El Segundo is empty save for two men circling each other near the blue line, ready to fight.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 21, 2025

The last time I visited, I sat by the window, with the blue line buzzing overhead, and slipped one of those postcards into an envelope addressed to one of my closest friends in California.

From Salon • Apr. 10, 2025

The thin blue line of words rose straight up from his lips through the air.

From "The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver