a grim line

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a grim line" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a serious or somber statement, boundary, or distinction in various contexts, such as literature, conversation, or analysis. Example: "The author drew a grim line between reality and fantasy, emphasizing the harsh truths of life."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

But whether he is sending up new fashions, recording a grim line of factory buildings or depicting an intimate personal encounter, the drawings share one quality: tenderness.

The New York Times - Arts

As she sits there, hair cut, a few strands poking out of her bonnet, her nose big, her mouth a grim line, she is the opposite of idealised royalist portraiture.

The Guardian

A better version of the above might go something like: Jane turned to Charles, her lips set in a grim line.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Lyndon Johnson's oldest aides and allies, the men who had known him longest, knew that expression: the big jaw jutting, the lips above it pulled into a tight, grim line, the corners turned down in a hint of a snarl, the dark-brown eyes, under the long black eyebrows, narrowed, hard, piercing.

The New Yorker

The artists's recent fascination with nature could be viewed as out of sync with his earlier installations, like the eight-meter, or 26-foot, smiley face made of neon tubes that uses an algorithm to reflect the mood of the people surrounding it, turning into a smile, grim line or frown accordingly.

The New York Times - Arts

It's a grim business.

Independent

A sense of hopelessness tends to emanate from books on illness, with a grim finish line that the reader knows is coming.

The Guardian

Both ski areas helpfully provide maps showing the likeliest path of any volcanic flow and a grim dotted line above which skiers might find themselves dodging more than moguls.

The New York Times - Travel

The Massacre was named for the Rolling Stones guitarist and 60's martyr Brian Jones, and at times its leader, Anton Newcombe, seems determined to provide a grim punch line to the joke by following Jones's self-destructive example.

The New York Times

There, I found the paper's head of marketing, her mouth set in a grim, lipless line.

Huffington Post

Writing my novel The Narrow Road to the Deep North I came to conclude that great crimes like the Death Railway did not begin with the first beating or murder on that grim line of horror in 1943.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a grim line" to set a somber or serious tone, especially when describing boundaries, statements, or potential outcomes that are particularly negative or severe. This phrase effectively conveys a sense of foreboding or harsh reality.

Common error

Avoid using "a grim line" in lighthearted or casual situations. The phrase's strong negative connotation can sound overly dramatic or inappropriate if the context doesn't warrant such gravity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a grim line" functions primarily as a descriptive element, often modifying a noun to convey a sense of severity or negativity. It establishes a tone of seriousness, foreboding, or stark reality.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Wiki

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a grim line" effectively conveys a sense of somberness, severity, or negativity. As Ludwig AI indicates, it is grammatically correct and used in diverse contexts, including news and media and wiki entries, to describe boundaries, predictions, or realities that are unpleasant or serious. While relatively rare, its impact lies in its ability to set a tone of foreboding or harshness. Related phrases like ""a bleak outlook"" or ""a harsh reality"" offer alternatives, but "a grim line" uniquely combines the sense of something defined with an underlying negativity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a somber boundary

Highlights the serious and subdued nature of a limit or separation, shifting from a descriptive line to an explicit boundary.

a stark demarcation

Emphasizes the clear and distinct separation created, using more formal vocabulary than the original phrase.

a harsh reality

Emphasizes the difficult and unpleasant truth, changing the description from a line to a reality.

a bleak outlook

Focuses on the lack of hope or positive prospects, differing from a specific boundary or statement.

a dire prediction

Emphasizes the alarming and urgent nature of a forecast, changing the image from a line to a prediction.

a severe restriction

Highlights the strict and limiting nature of a rule or constraint, changing the descriptor from grim to severe and the noun from line to restriction.

a depressing conclusion

Emphasizes the sadness or negativity associated with the final outcome, altering the focus from a line to a finality.

an unpromising situation

Focuses on the lack of positive potential in a set of circumstances, altering the context from a defined line to a broader situation.

a cheerless fate

Highlights the lack of joy or happiness in one's destiny, changing the context from a literal line to a destined outcome.

a joyless existence

Highlights the absence of happiness in someone's life, shifting the scope from a line to a state of being.

FAQs

How can I use "a grim line" in a sentence?

You can use "a grim line" to describe something that is serious, unpleasant, or depressing. For example, "The forecast painted "a grim line" for the future of the company".

What are some alternatives to "a grim line"?

Some alternatives include phrases like "a bleak outlook", "a somber boundary", or "a harsh reality", depending on the specific context.

Is "a grim line" appropriate for formal writing?

Yes, "a grim line" is appropriate for formal writing when you need to convey a sense of seriousness or negativity. However, consider the tone of your writing and ensure the phrase fits appropriately.

What does "a grim line" typically describe?

"A grim line" often describes boundaries, predictions, realities, or situations that are deeply unpleasant or negative. It's used to highlight the severity or seriousness of something.