【lifeline】 —

1. a rope (attached to a life-buoy) to which a person may cling to save his life:

• Lifelines used on Mr. Heath’s ill-fated yacht were yesterday called sub-standard by the British Safety Council.

2. smth. regarded as indispensable for survival:

• A ￡54-million “ 【lifeline】 ” was thrown by the Government yesterday to the farming industry.

3. (Palmistry) a line that supposedly indicates the duration and events in life:

• He felt a sharp pain in his palm, the part bounded by his 【lifeline】 .

Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase live line—(also: live wire) a cable or wire carrying electric current:

• Safe work procedures require the use of rubber gloves and other live line tools.

【line of life】 —

1. = 【lifeline】 3:

• Had I been a gypsy palmist I might have paid more attention to the old grouch’s lines of life and fate.

2. occupation; line of business:

• His father being a physician, he also decided to follow in his footsteps and so began the preparation for this 【line of life】 .

3. (dated) one’s rank or station in life:

• She had received a more liberal education than is usually bestowed upon English women in the middle 【line of life】 .