I've always wondered this.

What does it actually mean when you say "Something along the lines of..."

For instance if you were commissioning a sculpture you might sit down with the artist and a pen and paper and say "I want something along the lines of this" and then draw a sketch.

Or if you were describing a book you wanted you might say "The plot was something along the lines of a murder and a police man".

Where does this phrase come from, and what are you really saying?

Where does the phrase along the lines of come from, and what are you really saying?

For instance, if you were commissioning a sculpture you might sit down with the artist and a pen and paper and say

I want something along the lines of this

and then draw a sketch.

Or if you were describing a book you wanted you might say

The plot was something along the lines of a murder and a police man.

I've always wondered this.

What does it actually mean when you say "Something under the lines of..."

For instance if you were commissioning a sculpture you might sit down with the artist and a pen and paper and say "I want something under the lines of this" and then draw a sketch.

Or if you were describing a book you wanted you might say "The plot was something under the lines of a murder and a police man".

Where does this phrase come from, and what are you really saying?

I've always wondered this.

What does it actually mean when you say "Something along the lines of..."

For instance if you were commissioning a sculpture you might sit down with the artist and a pen and paper and say "I want something along the lines of this" and then draw a sketch.

Or if you were describing a book you wanted you might say "The plot was something along the lines of a murder and a police man".

Where does this phrase come from, and what are you really saying?

I've always wondered this.

What does it actually mean when you say "Something under the lines of..."

For instance if you were commissioning a sculpture you might sit down with the artist and a pen and paper and say "I want something under the lines of this" and then draw a sketch.

Or if you were describing a book you wanted you might say "The plot was something under the lines of a murder and a police man".

Where does this phrase come from, and what are you really saying?

Thanks (sorry for terrible examples! :p )

I've always wondered this.

What does it actually mean when you say "Something under the lines of..."

For instance if you were commissioning a sculpture you might sit down with the artist and a pen and paper and say "I want something under the lines of this" and then draw a sketch.

Or if you were describing a book you wanted you might say "The plot was something under the lines of a murder and a police man".

Where does this phrase come from, and what are you really saying?