battle line

Noun

battle line (plural battle lines)

1. The notional line on either side of which opposing forces are arrayed, and at which they meet in battle; a fortified line, short of the line where battle is expected, and behind which forces are arrayed; a forward line of infantry or other force, prepared for battle.
   • "You say he is in Armstrong's rear, do you? Damn him! That's just where I have been trying to get him all day, and I'll be in his rear directly. Face your battle lines about! Armstrong, push your skirmishers forward -- crowd 'em both ways! I'm going to Starnes. You'll hear from me in about five...1894, Dabney H. Maury, Recollections of a Virginian in the Mexican, Indian, and Civil Wars, section 17
   • We did not catch them napping, but found a well-entrenched battle line confronting us.1912 February–July, Edgar Rice Burroughs, “Under the Moons of Mars”, in The All-Story, New York, N.Y.: Frank A. Munsey Co., →OCLC; republished as “Through Carnage to Joy”, in A Princess of Mars...
2. A line of battle.
3. (figuratively, plural-normally) Any of those parts of a contest which, as a result of strategic decisions on both sides, are most closely fought and will likely determine the contest's course and outcome.
   • There's battle lines being drawn / And nobody's right if everybody's wrong1966 December, Stephen Stills, “For What It's Worth”performed by Buffalo Springfield
   • Mancini's side only showed enough ambition when it was too late and by then battle lines were drawn as James Collins and former City captain Richard Dunne fought a magnificent rearguard action at the heart of Villa's defence.2011 January 22, Phil McNulty, “Aston Villa 1 - 0 Man City”, in BBC