on those lines vs in those lines

[daemon99]

1) Why don't you try to do like that?
2) Why don't you try to do something on those lines?
3) Why don't you try to do something in those lines?

Can someone please tell me if the above three sentences are natural and mean the same thing? Can I omit something in sentences #2 and 3?

[bhaisahab]

1) Why don't you try to do like that?
2) Why don't you try to do something on those lines?
3) Why don't you try to do something in those lines?

Can someone please tell me if the above three sentences are natural and mean the same thing? Can I omit something in sentences #2 and 3?

Only 2. is ok, 1. would be ok with 'something' before 'like that'.

[Offroad]

I think that, depending on context, sentence 3 would be OK too.

[Daruma]

I think that, depending on context, sentence 3 would be OK too.

marciobarbalho,

Depending on what context?

[Offroad]

marciobarbalho,

Depending on what context?

a pipe

[svartnik]

Hey Daruma, your avatar depicts the cathedral of my city.

[svartnik]

a pipe

Also:
Why do you not try to do something along the lines of something else?
Why do you not try to do something along those lines?
Why do you not do something on the same lines?

[daemon99]

Thanks everybody!

[Daruma]

1) Why don't you try to do like that?
2) Why don't you try to do something on those lines?
3) Why don't you try to do something in those lines?

I'm not sure if "on" and "in" are correct, but isn't "along" better?

Merriam-Webster's Learner's Dictionary
lines [plural] —used in phrases like along the lines of to refer to something that is similar or close to the thing being mentioned
▪ We need something along the lines of a small cart. = We need a small cart or something along those/similar lines. [=we need a small cart or something like that]
▪ He said he was too busy to help, or something along those lines.

[svartnik]

This is where I learnt usage from:

Cambridge Dictionaries Online - Cambridge University Press