in the line of duty
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English[edit]
Pronunciation[edit]
Audio (AU) (file)
Prepositional phrase[edit]
- (idiomatic) As part of or while performing official duties, usually of the military or police personnel, or of government officials.
- 1922, William MacLeod Raine, chapter 35, in Man Size:
- "I'd hate to have the Inspector send in a report to headquarters, 'Constable Beresford missing in the line of duty.'"
- 1965 September 10, “Helping the Widows”, in Time, retrieved 20 March 2018:
- Last year 88 other U.S. policemen were killed in the line of duty.
- 2015 December 18, Kekla Magoon, “Review of All American Boy by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely”, in New York Times, retrieved 20 March 2018:
- Quinn's friends repeat the mantra that Officer Galluzzo was just doing his job, the implication being that mistakes made in the line of duty should be forgiven.
- Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see in, the, line, of, duty.
Usage notes[edit]
- Primarily used in relation to job-related dangers or death.
Translations[edit]
as part of or while performing official duties
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