# bright line

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/bright-line
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

A clear distinction in the context of a legal, moral, ethical, or analytical judgment.

## Examples

- The company needs a bright line between work and personal time.
- The judge established a bright line to clarify when a contract is officially broken.
- The committee struggled to draw a bright line between acceptable artistic expression and speech that violates the fundamental rights of others.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.