open linen.adj.
/ˌəʊp(ə)n ˈlʌɪn/, U.S. /ˈoʊp(ə)n ˈlaɪn/ A. n.
A telephone line on which a conversation between two parties can be overheard or intercepted by others.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > telecommunication > telegraphy or telephony > telephony > [noun] > line > types of
private line1852
outside line1861
firewire1883
party line1893
order wire1912
tie-line1923
open line1941
hotline1954
1941 O. Grayling AP 372 Snatching up the other telephone, he fired the words over the open line to New York.
1966 ‘G. Black’ You want to die, Johnny? iii. 47 Perhaps I should tell you, even on an open line, that I've just had a summons, from Ministerial level.
1992 R. Perle Hard Line IV. xiv. 158 I've got to be a little cryptic on this open line.
B. adj.
Chiefly Canadian. Usually in form open-line. Designating or relating to a radio or television programme in which the public may participate by telephone.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > broadcasting > a broadcast programme or item > [adjective] > types of programme or item
play-by-play1908
re-run1909
ball-by-ball1914
simultaneous1923
scriptless1930
scripted1941
soap opera1942
write-in1953
soap-operatic1963
open line1966
chat show1969
talk-back1972
made-for-TV1973
soap-operatical1975
drama-doc1977
omnibus1987
1966 D. Jamieson Troubled Air v. 76 Radio ‘Open Line’ programs are one of the most effective means yet devised for giving an outlet to public opinion.
1972 Guardian 25 Sept. 4 Open-line radio shows, during which the visitor sits in..a radio studio and answers questions in amplified telephone conversations with local people.
1985 Globe & Mail (Toronto) 10 Oct. a26/4 Mr. Crosbie told an open-line radio show Monday in St. John's that Mr. Mulraney's senior staff was not politically astute.
1993 Toronto Sun 17 June 5/2 He was grumpy, funny, irreverent—everything an open-line host should be.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2004; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.adj.1941