Is it in toe or in tow?

The correct version of this phrase is always toe the line. The phrase means ‘follow the rules or obey an authority’. ‘Tow the line’ is a misspelling based on ‘toe’ and ‘tow’ sounding the same, but ‘tow the line’ is always an error.

What did toe the line mean?

Meet a standard, abide by the rules, as in The new director will make us toe the line, I’m sure, or At daycare Brian has to toe the mark, but at home his mother’s quite lenient. This idiom refers to runners in a race placing their toes on the starting line and not moving until the starting signal.

What does toeing the party line mean?

the official policy or opinion of a political party that all its members are expected to support, especially in public. toe the party line (=obey it): Labour’s insistence that members toe the party line.

Is it in tow or in tote?

in ˈtow. (informal) following closely behind; with you: Mrs Bridge arrived with her four children in tow.

Will it be in tow?

If you have someone in tow, they are following you closely because you are looking after them or you are leading them somewhere.

Is tow the line correct?

“Toe the line” is often misspelled “tow the line“, substituting a familiar verb “tow” for the unfamiliar verbal use of “toe.” “Tow” does not accord with any of the proposed etymologies, so “tow the line” is a linguistic eggcorn.

What does pull the line mean?

“Pull the line” means you do something common, pre-arranged and mundane. The underlining does not work. Can you post an exact phrase you’re interested in?

How do you use toe the line in a sentence?

Examples of ‘toe the line’ in a sentence toe the line
  1. One day all land will be accessible to everyone, but until then they have to be made to toe the line. …
  2. He would toe the line for now, but once the Kariens left the Citadel, he would be in control. …
  3. There was too much at stake to toe the line of polite reticence.

What does toe the mark and walk the line mean?

toe the line/mark, to

To meet a particular standard; to conform strictly to a rule. The term comes from track, when the runners in a race line up with their toes placed on the starting line or mark.

What are toes?

Toes are the digits of the foot. The toe refers to part of the human foot, with five toes present on each human foot. Each toe consists of three phalanx bones, the proximal, middle, and distal, with the exception of the big toe (Latin: Hallux). The hallux only contains two phalanx bones, the proximal and distal.

What does it mean to two the line?

to do what you are expected to do without causing trouble for anyone: If you want to get ahead, you’d better learn to toe the line.

What does tow the mark mean?

To meet a particular standard; to conform strictly to a rule. The term comes from track, when the runners in a race line up with their toes placed on the starting line or mark. It began to be used figuratively in the early nineteenth century.

Where does the phrase walk the line come from?

It’s a prison term. Prisoners had to literally walk on a line or be punished. It came into general usage. It means the same as walk the straight and narrow: to obey the rules of morality and propriety.

What does standing toe to toe mean?

to start to fight, argue, or compete with someone fiercely and directly. They’re confident that the company is now strong enough to go toe to toe with its rivals. Easy Learning Idioms Dictionary.