blur the lines (between)
Meaning(s)
1. make the difference(s) between things less clearly defined
Popularity
Medium
Professional
Medium
Social
How to Memorize
blur the lines between fact and fiction
Analysis
When things are blurry, they are out of focus and are difficult to make sense of. When you 'blur the lines' between something, you make it difficult for people to see or be aware of where the boundaries are. In this case, 'the lines' are the differences that separate two things, like ideas, situations, or beliefs. You can 'blur the lines' between right and wrong; or between 'true and false' or 'fact and fiction'. What this means is that the clear distinctions between these opposites are no longer clear.
Social Examples (Basic)
- The storytelling in the book was so good that it managed to blur the lines between fact and fiction.
- Behavioural economics is a field that blurs the lines between economics and psychology.
Professional Examples (Advance)
- The company's shady practices did not clearly break any law, but they certainly blurred the lines between what is legal and illegal.
- Rachel has been blurring the lines between technology and business by making her company more digitally orientated.