cross the finish line—
1. cross the line which marks the end of a race:
- Williams had been declared the winner, both for crossing the finish line first and on a corrected time basis.
2. complete a task:
- By the year 2015 we can cross the finish line and know that all children with visual impairment have attained the right to education.
cross the line—
1. = cross the finish line 1:
- Catherine Coey was the first woman to cross the line in a time of 45 min. 57 sec.
2. overstep the limits of decency, respectability, etc.:
- It is only when women cross the line drawn by patriarchy that real possibilities begin to emerge.
Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase get one’s lines crossed—(also: get one’s wires crossed) misunderstand or be confused about smth.:
- I thought I actually got my lines crossed, and might have misread the bus schedule, and sent my child out to the bus stop too early.