Toe the line
Encyclopedia
"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
British House of Commons
The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords . Both Commons and Lords meet in the Palace of Westminster. The Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 650 members , who are known as Members...

 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
Decorum
Decorum was a principle of classical rhetoric, poetry and theatrical theory that was about the fitness or otherwise of a style to a theatrical subject...

. 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.

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" 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
Partisan (political)
In politics, a partisan is a committed member of a political party. In multi-party systems, the term is widely understood to carry a negative connotation - referring to those who wholly support their party's policies and are perhaps even reluctant to acknowledge correctness on the part of their...

 or factional politics, as in, "He's toeing the party line
Party line (politics)
In politics, the line or the party line is an idiom for a political party or social movement's canon agenda, as well as specific ideological elements specific to the organization's partisanship. The common phrase toeing the party line describes a person who speaks in a manner that conforms to his...

."

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
Basic Training
Basic Training may refer to:* Basic Training, a 1971 American documentary directed by Frederick Wiseman* Basic Training , an American sex comedy* Recruit training...

; Advanced Individual Training; Warrant Officer Candidate School
Warrant Officer (United States)
In the United States military, the rank of warrant officer is rated as an officer above the senior-most enlisted ranks, as well as officer cadets and candidates, but below the officer grade of O-1...

; Officer Candidate School
Officer Candidate School
Officer Candidate School or Officer Cadet School are institutions which train civilians and enlisted personnel in order for them to gain a commission as officers in the armed forces of a country....

) 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."

In popular culture

The expression occurs in the lyrics of the 1965 song: "Run for Your Life
Run For Your Life
"Run for Your Life" is a song recorded by The Beatles for their 1965 album Rubber Soul. The song, while credited to "Lennon–McCartney", was primarily a John Lennon composition.-Background:...

" by The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...

.

The expression is the title of the 1986 song "Toe the Line" by GTR band. members: Steve Howe, Steve Hackett, Max Bacon,Phil Spalding Jonathan Mover.

The expression is used in the song "Potiphar" from Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is an Andrew Lloyd Webber musical with lyrics by Tim Rice. The story is based on the "coat of many colors" story of Joseph from the Hebrew Bible's Book of Genesis. This was the first Lloyd Webber and Rice musical to be performed publicly...

.

The 1980 Rocky Burnette
Rocky Burnette
Rocky Burnette is an American rock and roll singer/musician and the son of rock and roll pioneer, Johnny Burnette. He is best known for his 1980 hit single "Tired of Toein' the Line."-Career:...

 song "Tired of Toein' the Line
Tired of Toein' the Line
"Tired of Toein' the Line" is the name of a song written and performed by Rocky Burnette. The song became an international hit when released as a single in 1980. The song's lyrics detail an imminent breakup....

", which reached #1 in Australia and #8 in the U.S., makes use of the expression.

The expression is used in Boz Scaggs
Boz Scaggs
William Royce "Boz" Scaggs is an American singer, songwriter and guitarist. He gained fame in the 1970s with several Top 20 hit singles in the United States, along with the #2 album, Silk Degrees. Scaggs continues to write, record music and tour.-Early life and career:Scaggs was born in Canton,...

' 1976 song "Lido Shuffle
Lido Shuffle
Lido Shuffle is a song by Boz Scaggs from the 1976 album Silk Degrees. The single reached #11 on the pop chart and #13 in the UK singles chart...

".

The phrase is also used in the 2005 Single "Fuck Forever" from "The Babybshambles" in a socio-political context.

It also reappears in the chorus of Rise Against
Rise Against
Rise Against is an American punk rock band from Chicago, Illinois, formed in 1999. The band currently consists of Tim McIlrath , Zach Blair , Joe Principe and Brandon Barnes .Rise Against spent its first five years signed to the independent record label Fat Wreck Chords, on which it...

's Historia Calamitatum
Historia Calamitatum
Historia Calamitatum , also known as Abaelardi ad Amicum Suum Consolatoria, is an autobiographical work in Latin by Peter Abelard, one of medieval France's most important intellectuals and a pioneer of scholastic philosophy. It is one of the first autobiographicalworks in medieval Western Europe,...

.
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