fine line

American  

[fahyn lahyn] / ˈfaɪn ˈlaɪn /

noun

1. a small, barely perceptible difference.

   There's often a fine line between helping and interfering.

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idioms

1. walk a fine line,

   1. to act carefully in order to avoid the wrong outcome or maintain a delicate balance.

      Moderators walk a fine line between censorship and protecting their site's users.

      I had to walk a fine line between maintaining the peace and doing my job.

   2. to act in a way that risks a disastrous outcome.

      You’re walking a fine line, buddy—if you don’t start watching your mouth, you’ll lose the respect of your kids.

Etymology

Origin of fine line

First recorded in 1845–50

Example Sentences

As to the famous fine line between stupid and clever, the stupidity and the cleverness are all but inextricable, and to the point.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 20, 2026

Tina says there's also a fine line between refreshing and overdoing it as "very aggressive ice exposure can irritate sensitive skin or trigger rosacea, so keep it gentle".

From BBC • Feb. 16, 2026

They reveal how he negotiated the fine line between autobiography and fiction and how closely he collaborated with editors, actors and experts in fields ranging from guns and counter-terrorism to pharmaceuticals and criminology.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 26, 2026

There is a fine line between humility and confidence.

From MarketWatch • Jan. 23, 2026

He walked a fine line filling out the form: making the launch date and flight path clear, while doing everything possible to "conceal state secrets."

From "The Martian" by Andy Weir