Toe the line

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (January 2009)

This article contains weasel words: vague phrasing that often accompanies biased or unverifiable information. Such statements should be clarified or removed. (January 2009)

Look up toe the line in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

"Toe the line" is an idiomatic expression meaning to conform to a rule or a standard.

The expression has disputed origins. It is commonly thought that its origins lie in the British House of Commons where sword-strapped members were instructed to stand behind lines that were two sword-lengths apart from their political rivals in order to restore decorum. However, there is no record of a time when Members of Parliament were allowed to bring swords into the Chamber. Historically, only the Serjeant at Arms carries a sword as a symbol of his role in Parliament. There are loops of pink ribbon in the Members' cloakroom for MPs to hang up their swords before entering the Chamber to this very day as a result of this rule. In fact, there were not any lines in the Chamber in the days that gentlemen carried swords. ^[1]

The most likely origins of the term go back to the usage of the wooden ships in the Royal Navy. Barefooted seamen had to stand at attention for inspection and had to line up on deck along the seams of the wooden planks, hence to "toe the line" ^[2] Over the years the term has been attributed to sports, including toeing the starting line in track events and toeing a center line in boxing which boxers were instructed to line up on either side of to start a match.

In modern usage, it appears often in the context of partisan or factional politics, as in, "He's toeing the party line."

The term is still used literally by active and reserve components of the U.S. Army. Soldiers in a training status (e.g., Basic Training; Advanced Individual Training; Warrant Officer Candidate School; Officer Candidate School) may have two solid lines, each approximately three inches wide and placed five feet apart, either taped or painted, running down the center of the entire length of their barracks' floor. Instructors enter the barracks without warning and shout, "Toe the line!" At this command, soldiers immediately cease activities and rush to the closest line. Standing abreast of each other, each soldier looks down to ensure that his/her toes are on the line. Once a soldier achieves this, he/she then assumes the position of attention. The two lines create a five-foot-wide walkway down the center of the barracks. The instructor uses this walkway to pace up and down while addressing or inspecting the trainees. Toeing the line is used only in high-stress training environments.

The expression is also often equated to the one "toe the mark."

Etymology

The primary connotation of toe the line is “To adhere to rules or doctrines conscientiously; conform” (American Heritage), “To conform to a rule or standard” (Oxford).

The most commonly cited source for a sports origin etymology is foot-racing, where the competitors must keep their feet behind a "line" or on a "mark" at the start of the race, as in "On your mark, get set, go!". Another is boxing, where opponents were compelled by a referee's command, "Toe the line!", to stand toe to toe across from one another to start a match.

Cricket: To "toe the line" referred to a bowler "no-balling", by delivering the ball with his toe over the "popping crease" as the ball was delivered (i.e. left his "bowling hand"). This "Law" has now been altered to the "front-foot Law."

References

External links

• World Wide Words