Thin Red Line Red line (phrase)

the thin red line (1881) robert gibb, depicting 93rd regiment fighting off russian cavalry @ battle of balaclava in 1854

from british english, entirely different figure of speech act of great courage against impossible order or thinly spread military unit holding firm against attack, or thin red line , originates reports of red-coated scottish regiment @ battle of balaclava during crimean war. journalist described thin red streak tipped line of steel appearance of 93rd (highland) regiment , parts of turkish army stood before (and repelled) vastly superior force of russian cavalry. reference shortened thin red line, , famously described rudyard kipling in poem tommy thin red line of eroes [heroes].

notable literary uses included george orwell in clergyman s daughter invented book-within-a-book called hundred page history of britain, nasty little duodecimo book of 1888, declared anachronistically napoleon found in “thin red line” had more met match. american author james jones later used thin red line title of 1962 novel world war ii battle, helping further popularize usage.

its popularity of use in usa has increased since andrew marton s 1964 movie , terrence malick s 1998 movie of jones s novel, latter of ranked 1 of 10 best action , war films of time.

the basic idea has been extended in 20th century apply police officers, thin blue line, in reference blue color of police uniforms.