noun

clothesline

KLOHTHZ-lyn

noun

A rope or cord strung up outdoors for hanging washing to dry.

"Sheets flapped on the clothesline in the summer breeze."

verb

To knock someone down by striking them across the chest or neck with an outstretched arm.

"The linebacker clotheslined the runner just short of the end zone."

How to Use Clothesline

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA line for drying washing outside — or, informally, a hard hit across the neck or chest that knocks someone flat.

When to use it

The verb sense is informal, common in sports commentary and wrestling.

Common pairings

hang out on the clothesline clothesline tackle

clotheslined past tense, clotheslines plural, clotheslines singular

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Can you complete this real example?

Sheets flapped on the _____ in the summer breeze.

A straightforward compound of clothes plus line.

nine mine wine line sine dine fine vine pine tine Eine thine