draw a line in the sand

Etymology
. In the US, it is commonly accepted as a reference to the action of William B. Travis, who, in 1836, while commanding the defenders of the Alamo and contemplating a demand for surrender, drew a line in the sand and asked those willing to remain and defend the Alamo to their deaths to step across.

Verb

 * 1)  To lay down a challenge; to provide a test of commitment (often one which carries a high risk) to a cause.
 * 2) * 2007, Daniel Pyne, Glenn Gers (scriptwriters), Fracture,
 * WILLY: It doesn't have to stick: we just need to get a court order for now - to keep Crawford from pulling the plug! With all the brain-power here, I'm sure somebody can come up with a pretext or call in a favor. Then we can tie this up in court while we arrange a state-appointed conservatorship - so we can protect her while we fight him on -
 * NIKKI: What's the point, Willy?
 * WILLY: The point?! [Willy stares.] Because she's drawn a line in the sand. One he already crossed, without truly understanding... and now he's standing out there alone.
 * 1) To create a real or artificial boundary or distinction between (two places, people or things).
 * 2) To indicate the threshold or level above which something will become unacceptable or will provoke a response; to create a boundary and imply or declare that its crossing will provoke a (negative) response.
 * 3) * 2003 March 5, Robert Byrd, speech, North Korea: The Rising Peril,
 * Even so, the current crisis might well have been defused weeks ago, before the two leaders started exchanging threats of war, had the United States agreed to talk directly to North Korea, as our allies in the region have been pleading with us to do. Instead, the Administration drew a line in the sand, insisting that the United States would not be blackmailed into one-on-one talks with North Korea.
 * 1) To indicate the threshold or level above which something will become unacceptable or will provoke a response; to create a boundary and imply or declare that its crossing will provoke a (negative) response.
 * 2) * 2003 March 5, Robert Byrd, speech, North Korea: The Rising Peril,
 * Even so, the current crisis might well have been defused weeks ago, before the two leaders started exchanging threats of war, had the United States agreed to talk directly to North Korea, as our allies in the region have been pleading with us to do. Instead, the Administration drew a line in the sand, insisting that the United States would not be blackmailed into one-on-one talks with North Korea.
 * 1) To indicate the threshold or level above which something will become unacceptable or will provoke a response; to create a boundary and imply or declare that its crossing will provoke a (negative) response.
 * 2) * 2003 March 5, Robert Byrd, speech, North Korea: The Rising Peril,
 * Even so, the current crisis might well have been defused weeks ago, before the two leaders started exchanging threats of war, had the United States agreed to talk directly to North Korea, as our allies in the region have been pleading with us to do. Instead, the Administration drew a line in the sand, insisting that the United States would not be blackmailed into one-on-one talks with North Korea.
 * 1) To indicate the threshold or level above which something will become unacceptable or will provoke a response; to create a boundary and imply or declare that its crossing will provoke a (negative) response.
 * 2) * 2003 March 5, Robert Byrd, speech, North Korea: The Rising Peril,
 * Even so, the current crisis might well have been defused weeks ago, before the two leaders started exchanging threats of war, had the United States agreed to talk directly to North Korea, as our allies in the region have been pleading with us to do. Instead, the Administration drew a line in the sand, insisting that the United States would not be blackmailed into one-on-one talks with North Korea.
 * 1) * 2003 March 5, Robert Byrd, speech, North Korea: The Rising Peril,
 * Even so, the current crisis might well have been defused weeks ago, before the two leaders started exchanging threats of war, had the United States agreed to talk directly to North Korea, as our allies in the region have been pleading with us to do. Instead, the Administration drew a line in the sand, insisting that the United States would not be blackmailed into one-on-one talks with North Korea.

Translations

 * Chinese:
 * Mandarin:
 * Finnish:
 * Russian:


 * Chinese:
 * Mandarin:
 * Finnish: vetää raja
 * Russian: не переступать черту


 * Chinese:
 * Mandarin:
 * Finnish: vetää raja, asettaa raja
 * Russian: