It really is “tow the line.”
Tow (like ‘cow’ with a ‘t’ in place of the ‘c’) is a bundle of fibers. It came from the textile industry. Towing means bundling. Towing the line means getting bunched with the other fibers. It’s similar to the Japanese expression that ‘the nail which sticks up will be hammered down.’
OK. I can’t go through with it. That is complete fiction. It’s sort of believable though - right?
[Hijack]
That’s a toe. Whose thumb has those proportions, that short with that much width?
[/hijack]
See that’s the problem with amateur etymology, I’m not sure your speculations quite work either.
I’ve always viewed “toe the line” as an equivalent of “to obey”. As others have noted, it would seem to have its origins in any establishment, military or otherwise with a big old line on the floor and the subsequent need to have your toes on said line lest you conjure up the wrath of the highers-up.
In your citation from bare-knuckled brawling, the term seems to serve as an en garde call or something like “fighters step up” -baseball’s equivalent would be an ump hollering “Play ball!” Even with its use to signal a fighter’s inability to continue it seems a more convoluted stretch for that to lead to the term’s present day usage.
Just respectfully disagreeing, mind you.
When I was small I always heard “Toe the mark” so it was clearer to me that way
I wait with baited breath to see how this thread will turn out.
The correct expression is “Toe the line.” Everyone had better begin using the correct expression correctly or something bad will happen. I don’t know what, though.
Merry Christmas to all y’all.
Additionally,
mic - shortened for microphone
mike - proper noun, diminutive of Michael (improperly left uncapitalized)
Hell, I always thought the phrase was “tow the line,” as in pull yer fckin’ weight*, or “tow the party line.”
Consider me a tick smarter now.
Tripler
Merry christmas y’all.
Okay, this should settle the issue for the unbelievers: Last night I had a strange compulsion to see Debra Winger naked one more time so I watched An Officer and a Gentleman. In one scene, Louis Gossett, Jr orders a bunch of officer candidates to Fall In! Put your toes on the white line! I rest my case. Debra Winger is a fox. Seeing her was worth watching the movie. The toes on the line part was just a bonus,
A wide belt worn with a tuxedo is a cummerbund. Yep, it’s spelled and pronounced that way.
Is it just a Southeast U.S. thing to call a lectern a podium?
Palate, palette, pallet - why is it so hard to keep them straight?
I would like to point out that if you have a bunch of line that needs moving, it is much easier to Tow the line than it would be to push it.
I would think it would be much easier to pick it up and carry it.
When people use “that begs the question” instead of “that raises the question” is what always irks me.
I can understand why people make the error though. “Beg” seems like a fairly natural synonym for “raise”.
He means “four intense porpoises.” They are a serious bunch.