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I agree with your comment, but isn’t it “thin red line”? Or am I thinking of something else?

Thin red line is the numerically weak but functionally strong force required to maintain an empire (British redcoats).

Metaphorically, it's the bubble-skin that separates internal order from external chaos.

Cool. I hadn't known the exact provenance of that. There's also "thin blue line" meaning police force[0] (separating decent folk from criminals and chaos) as opposed to a military force[1] which is a red line.

I would add that red lines are topical with Brexit[2] negotiations in the media, lines beyond which this British government is unwilling to step.

[0] Movie https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Thin_Blue_Line_(1988_film) and TV show https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Thin_Blue_Line_(TV_series)

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Thin_Red_Line_(1998_film) – one of the best films about war ever in my opinion

[2] https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/dec/05/theres...

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