To receive special, sometimes even confidential information about something.
Получить специальную, иногда конфиденциальную, информацию о чем-либо.
Before Bill accepted his new position, he got a line on how the business was being run.
The police was helpless until at last they got a line on the criminal’s whereabouts.
Полиция была беспомощна, пока наконец не получила сведения о местонахождении преступника.