Line of work meaning in English

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Definition

a line of work: a business, a type of work, a profession, a career idiom

Being a hired killer is an interesting line of work. I prefer accounting, but both are interesting in different ways.

Examples

"So what's your line of work?"
"Icarus : That's a distinct advantage in my line of work."
"Bruno : Your line of work must be exhausting."

Exercise 1

Bruno talks about Dr. Badguy's line of work.

From the list below, select the sentences which use "a line of..." correctly.

Delavigne will release a new line of cosmetic products next summer.

I used to be a clerk at the company, but after I was promoted, my line of work changed to supervisor.

The line of being a doctor is famous for the amount of education required.

My friend is an airplane pilot. In his line of business, he works long hours and travels frequently.

Bruno talks about Dr. Badguy's line of work.

From the list below, select the sentences which use "a line of..." correctly.

Delavigne will release a new line of cosmetic products next summer.

"A line of merchandise" is a series or collection of products or merchandise. If Delavigne releases a new line of cosmetic products, they will put out a collection of similar products at once, for example all of the products might be part of a spring or summer collection.

I used to be a clerk at the company, but after I was promoted, my line of work changed to supervisor.

"A line of work" can't refer to a simple promotion or a change of job title or even responsibility. If a line of work has changed, then the sector of the profession has changed. For example: a teacher who becomes a lawyer has changed their line of work.

The line of being a doctor is famous for the amount of education required.

On its own, the term "line" can't refer to a profession or a type of professional activity. In order to indicate the sense of a profession or a sector of activity, we use the expressions "a line of work" or "a line of business".

My friend is an airplane pilot. In his line of business, he works long hours and travels frequently.

"A line of business", like the idiom Bruno uses (a line of work) refers to a sector of professional activity. More specifically, the idiom refers to the principal activity in life which permits you to earn money. A line of business could be "construction", "teaching" or "singing".

Exercise 2

Shopkeeper: So what's your ? Kidnapping? Drug dealing? ?
Brian: Industrial espionage. The company I work for a lot of spies.

Shopkeeper: So what's your line of work ? Kidnapping? Drug dealing? Blackmail ?
Brian: Industrial espionage. The company I work for attracts a lot of spies.

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