Toe the line
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"Toe the line" is an idiomatic expression meaning to conform to a rule or a standard.
The term has disputed origins. Perhaps its longest-running use is from the British House of Commons where sword-strapped members were instructed to stand behind lines that were better than a sword’s length from their political rivals in order to restore decorum.
In days of sail, "toe the line" was used as a command for crewmen to line up along a crack in deck planking, similar to the modern "Attention!" [1] 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 US Army. Soldiers in a training status (e.g., basic training; AIT; warrant officer candidate school; officer candidate school) may have two solid lines, each approximately 3" wide and placed 5' 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 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 5'-wide walkway down the center of the barracks. The instructor uses this walkway to pace up and down while addressing the trainees. Toeing the line is appropriate only in high-stress training environments.
It is also often equated to "toe the mark."
[edit] 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).
While the phrase has been indisputably re-used several times throughout history an oft-repeated origin of the phrase comes from the British House of Commons.
The House, historically and today, has two sets of lines separating the front row benches. Better than a "sword's length" apart, their heritage of keeping over-excited members from appealing to their arms to settle debate disappears into the history of Parliament. In times of heated exchange the Speaker would demand that members, "Toe the line, toe the line!" his entreaty being echoed throughout the House to return order and quell a growing conflict. In modern courtrooms a judge's command (often accompanied by stern gaveling), "Order, order in the courtroom!" has the same effect.
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.
Sometimes this phrase is written "tow the line," changing the meaning of the phrase from conformance with a rule to contribution to a cause or effort, as in the act of pulling something with a line, the way a canal man would along a barge canal's towpath.
