in the line of fire
In a position to encounter something unpleasant, such as punishment. You'll be in the line of fire if the boss finds out you signed off on that printing error.
line of fire, in the
In the path of an an attack, as in Whenever Audrey and Jeff quarrel, I take care to get out of the line of fire. This expression, dating from the mid-1800s, originally referred to the path of a bullet or other projectile, a meaning also still current. Also see firing line.