take a hard line (with someone)

take a hard line (with someone)
take a hard line (with someone)
Fig. to be firm with someone; to have a firm policy for dealing with someone. •

The manager takes a hard line with people who show up late.

This is a serious matter. The police are likely to take a hard line.


Dictionary of American idioms. 2013.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • take a hard line — phrase to deal with someone or something in a very firm or strict way and refuse to change your opinion or decision The government is taking a hard line over tax avoidance. Thesaurus: to not change, or to refuse to change your opinionsynonym… …   Useful english dictionary

  • take a hard line — to deal with someone or something in a very firm or strict way and refuse to change your opinion or decision The government is taking a hard line over tax avoidance …   English dictionary

  • hard — 1 adjective FIRM TO TOUCH 1 firm and stiff, and difficult to press down, break, or cut: Diamond is the hardest substance known to man. | The plums are much too hard to be eaten now. | The chairs in the waiting room felt hard and uncomfortable.… …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

  • hard — hard1 [ hard ] adjective *** ▸ 1 firm & not easy to break ▸ 2 difficult to do ▸ 3 full of problems ▸ 4 strong & not frightened ▸ 5 unkind/cruel ▸ 6 with much physical force ▸ 7 about water ▸ 8 winter/frost: severe ▸ 9 facts, etc.: can be proved ▸ …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • line — [[t]la͟ɪn[/t]] ♦ lines, lining, lined 1) N COUNT A line is a long thin mark which is drawn or painted on a surface. Draw a line down that page s center. ...a dotted line... The ball had clearly crossed the line. 2) N COUNT: usu pl The lines on… …   English dictionary

  • hard */*/*/ — I UK [hɑː(r)d] / US [hɑrd] adjective Word forms hard : adjective hard comparative harder superlative hardest 1) stiff, firm, and not easy to bend or break hard wooden benches The plastic was chosen because it is very hard and durable. 2) a)… …   English dictionary

  • hard — hard1 W1S1 [ha:d US ha:rd] adj comparative harder superlative hardest ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ 1¦(firm to touch)¦ 2¦(difficult)¦ 3¦(work/effort)¦ 4¦(full of problems)¦ 5 be hard on somebody 6 be hard on something 7 do something the hard way …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • line — line1 W1S1 [laın] n ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ 1¦(on paper/on the ground)¦ 2¦(between two areas)¦ 3¦(of people/things)¦ 4¦(direction)¦ 5¦(on your face)¦ 6¦(phone)¦ 7¦(for trains)¦ 8¦(between two types of thing)¦ 9¦(shape/edge)¦ 10¦(w …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • line — 1 noun LONG THIN MARK 1 (C) a long thin, usually continuous mark on a surface: A wiggly line showed where the river was. | straight line: Can you draw a straight line? | dotted line (=a broken straight line drawn or printed on paper): Sign your… …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

  • line — line1 [ laın ] noun *** ▸ 1 long thin mark ▸ 2 edge showing shape ▸ 3 border/limit ▸ 4 telephone connection ▸ 5 row of people/things ▸ 6 part of railroad system ▸ 7 transportation company ▸ 8 way of thinking/talking ▸ 9 series of words ▸ 10… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • line — I UK [laɪn] / US noun Word forms line : singular line plural lines *** 1) [countable] a long thin mark on the surface of something Draw a straight line. Each horizontal line on the graph represents fifteen minutes. a) a long thin mark on the… …   English dictionary

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