through line

noun

variants or throughline

ˈthrü-ˌlīn 

or less commonly through-line

: a common or consistent element or theme shared by items in a series or by parts of a whole

But Kent's latest nonetheless reveals a fascinating through line in her work, which centers on, as she puts it, "disrespect for the feminine"—and the inciting power of female rage.

—Rachel Handler

Vang was born in a refugee camp in Thailand, and came to the United States in the late 1980s. For him and his family, food was the throughline keeping them connected to their culture, wherever they were.

—Sharyn Jackson

Perverse moments like these are a throughline in Decker's work. The Texas native specializes in "bad" desires—awkward wants that tend to go unexpressed, or which otherwise seem too compromising to confess even to oneself.

—K. Austin Collins

Unlike Tokyo's great shopping thoroughfares, which have a certain logical through-line (if not aesthetic, at least socioeconomic), Osaka's arcades are mismatched, high-low jumbles of retail diversions.

—Simon Dumenco

Examples of through line in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

While the style of each project is tailored to the client's taste, a feeling of comfort and a sense of timelessness serve as a through line in the firm’s work. —Dan Howarth, Architectural Digest, 30 Jan. 2025

Authenticity was the through line in all of Lovaas’s work on the film: One of the hats worn by an actor was over 100 years old. —Caroline Reilly, Robb Report, 15 Jan. 2025

Montage Promoting Kyle Mooney's Directorial Debut Movies Rachel Zegler Battles Evil Machines in Trailer for A24 Horror-Comedy 'Y2K' The ’90s are a real through line in your work. —Mikey O'Connell, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 Dec. 2024

Speaking to Variety from the Cairo Film Festival – where Sheridan is now feted as festival guest of honor – the filmmaker reflected on his ample development slate and on the socially engaged and conscious through line connecting the various projects. —Ben Croll, Variety, 18 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1936, in the meaning defined above