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toe the line

Meaning in simple English, pronunciation and examples

Pronunciation: US /ˌtoʊ ðə ˈlaɪn/ · UK /ˌtəʊ ðə ˈlaɪn/

toe the line means: To follow rules or do what a group or person in charge expects.

verb

FOLLOW RULESC1

To follow rules or do what a group or person in charge expects.

  • Everyone here must toe the line.
  • She lost her job for refusing to toe the line.
  • The party expects its members to toe the line.

Similar words: obey, conform, comply

Opposites: rebel, disobey

Common phrases: toe the line, toe the party line

ON THE BOUNDARYC1

To be very close to the boundary between two different qualities or states.

  • Her stories toe the line between fact and fiction.
  • The advertisement toed the line between honesty and deception.
  • Does this behaviour toe the line between legal and illegal?

How to use it: toe the line between A and B (His jokes toe the line between funny and cruel.)

Similar words: straddle the boundary, walk the line

Common phrases: toe the line, toe the line between

RACE STARTC2

To take your place at the starting line before a running race.

  • The runners toed the line.
  • She will toe the line at her first marathon tomorrow.
  • He was nervous as he toed the line before the final.

How to use it: toe the line at a race (Hundreds of runners toed the line at the city marathon.)

Similar words: take one's starting position

Common phrases: toe the line, toe the line again

Questions about toe the line

What does toe the line mean?

To follow rules or do what a group or person in charge expects.

What is toe the line in other languages?

Türkçe: kurallara uymak · Español: acatar las normas · Français: rentrer dans le rang · Deutsch: sich an die Regeln halten · Italiano: rigare dritto · 日本語: 規則に従う

How do you pronounce toe the line?

In American English /ˌtoʊ ðə ˈlaɪn/; in British English /ˌtəʊ ðə ˈlaɪn/.

How do you use toe the line in a sentence?

Everyone here must toe the line. She lost her job for refusing to toe the line.

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toe the line in other languages

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