Common usage. It's synonymous with "pull the line." Within politics, being a adherent of group discipline means you "pull the party line," which I'd guess is the origin.
Well, you can find "pull the party line" in a number of places. I've heard "pull the line" several times in my life as a short version of it, and "tow the line" a few times, too. Generally, it was in writing where the toe/tow confusion wouldn't be a big deal. It's a very infrequent use, but one I have heard before.
A semi-synonymous phrase is "carry water," usually as "carry water for X", where X is a person, implying that you will quietly do the hard labor to support someone. I'm guessing it's a military term, referring to bringing water to a solider in battle.
Interesting. The usage I am most familiar with for "toe the line" originated with dressing the lines of soliders in a regiment in strict formation -- toeing the line as it came from that environment had to do with following the rules, conforming to expectations, falling into one's place within the structure. Telling someone to toe the line was usually in response to that person having expressed a rebelliousness or a desire for contrary behavior.
(Comes from six years of regimental bands and getting yelled at by the file leaders.)
Wikipedia says it comes from sailing, too, but with a different nuance than yours.
What I'm used to is more like this:
"Toe the line" is an idiomatic expression meaning to conform to a rule or a standard. ....... "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."
I love how regional differences mean totally different uses of the same expression. No wonder there's confusion!
The way I always interpreted the phrase is that there's "the party line" (meaning a group's approved stance), and when you "toe" it you either have your toes just behind the line (just on the acceptable side) or else just edging over it (just over to what might be unacceptable), the idea being that you're either paying lip service to the approved stance or else that you're trying to see what you can get away with.
And that sounds much more like the nuanced interpretation that roadriverrail was suggesting, which is totally different from the simple version I listed above. There's certainly the possibility of using it to mean "barely within bounds" or "pushing the bounds"; that's just not a way I've ever seen or heard it used.
Don't ever become a teacher. I don't care what subject, you'll see waaaay too much horrible grammar. Having an English teacher for a mother, it's very hard for me to not start editing their English, but it just takes soooo much time I usually have to ignore it.
I ... er.... were you reacting to this (http://blog.iblamethepatriarchy.com/2009/10/05/the-spinstitute-for-glossological-research/) or was that just a really weird coincidence?
I agree with you completely, with the exception of one special case.
I don't correct people who use "that" instead of "who" when referring to me explicitly. I guess it all goes along with coming to accept that I'm a soulless automaton. :-D
BTW, I haven't commented in your LJ in so long that you've likely forgotten that I exist. Hello!
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branchandroot
(no subject)
Date: 2009-10-05 10:19 pm (UTC)When you toe the line, you hover on the edge of what the system allows.
When you tow the line, you are giving your labor to the agreed group agenda.
(no subject)
Date: 2009-10-05 10:30 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-10-05 10:50 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-10-05 10:55 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-10-05 11:02 pm (UTC)A semi-synonymous phrase is "carry water," usually as "carry water for X", where X is a person, implying that you will quietly do the hard labor to support someone. I'm guessing it's a military term, referring to bringing water to a solider in battle.
(no subject)
Date: 2009-10-06 12:36 am (UTC)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toe_the_line
My apologies. I'll fall in line.
(no subject)
Date: 2009-10-06 12:46 am (UTC)(Comes from six years of regimental bands and getting yelled at by the file leaders.)
Wikipedia says it comes from sailing, too, but with a different nuance than yours.
What I'm used to is more like this:
"Toe the line" is an idiomatic expression meaning to conform to a rule or a standard.
.......
"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."
I love how regional differences mean totally different uses of the same expression. No wonder there's confusion!
(no subject)
Date: 2009-10-06 01:12 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-10-06 01:28 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-10-06 06:04 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-10-05 10:29 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-10-06 01:13 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-10-06 03:11 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-10-06 04:49 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-10-06 06:33 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-10-07 03:28 am (UTC)I don't correct people who use "that" instead of "who" when referring to me explicitly. I guess it all goes along with coming to accept that I'm a soulless automaton. :-D
BTW, I haven't commented in your LJ in so long that you've likely forgotten that I exist. Hello!