The quotes indicate a use in boxing, but not an exclusive one. 1(of a motor vehicle or boat) pull (another vehicle or boat) along with a rope, chain, or tow bar.
‘A thrown line and a tow got her back to the anchor-line, and down we went.’ ‘By 1974, the rope tow moved up to Silver Star Mountain.’ ‘If I had been a beginner skier with so little time on the mountain, I'd still be belly-flopping off the rope tow.’ ‘She couldn't get off the rope tow and ended up going to … Am I the only one who thought it meant “to get really close to crossing the line” (as in ‘go too far’)? Of course, before you toe any line, I’d recommend thinking hard about whether it’s a line that makes sense for you, your career, and your sense of integrity. All content on this website, including dictionary, thesaurus, literature, geography, and other reference data is for informational purposes only. Powered by Discourse, best viewed with JavaScript enabled, http://www.word-detective.com/backidx.html. **, To fit your definition, I’ve heard “walking a fine line.”, *Originally posted by bibliophage * Umm, perhaps my memory is wrong, or that different ships have different names, but isn’t the left side of a ship the “port” side?
I don’t want to argue with bibliophage and the OED combined, but I’ve heard the origin as coming from bare-knuckle boxing when fighters had to “come up to scratch” and “toe the line” to slug it out with each other, giving us both those phrases. The term comes from track, when the runners in a race line up with their toes placed on the starting line or mark. cant find anything on tow yet:). The new legislation could force them out of business if they don't toe the line. Curious. Going back to the original, literal 'toeing' of a line; there are many circumstances where one might place one's toes up to a line - the start of a sporting event, standing in formation on parade, etc, etc. ), as to come up to (the) scratch, up to the required standard; to bring to the scratch, to toe the scratch, etc.
Larboard is a nautical term meaning “port” or “on the port side”; the dictionary doesn’t label it so, but I think it’s now somewhat archaic. The noun dates from the early 17th century. Tube-launched, optically tracked, wire-guided (missile). https://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/toe+the+line, To adhere to the rules of something. I like it. Angry father: "You'd better toe the line this time, mister, or next time I catch you tattooing your sister's name on shaved dogs you'll be grounded for a month!" Curious. (Often misspelled as "tow the line. To toe the line means to be where you need to be, to act as you need to act, according to a pre-defined standard. *Originally posted by spiffo * There’s no “towing” or “hauling” involved. **. I’m 45 years old. From now on, I plan to toe the line and do exactly what Gram tells me, to avoid getting in any more trouble. Pauling was using the figurative rather than literal meaning of the phrase, that is, to 'toe the mark' was to conform to a set standard. Old English togian ‘draw, drag’, of Germanic origin; related to tug. Others have answered your first question so I’ll stick to this second question. The use of the word “port” to describe the left side was introduced to prevent confusion between larboard/starboard. (as in Tow the company line). A line or mark drawn as an indication of a boundary or starting-point; in Cricket, a ‘crease’ (obs. 1The coarse and broken part of flax or hemp prepared for spinning. ladydisco, you’re not the only one. Hence in various phrases (often fig. I expect you to toe the line at all times if you want to remain at this firm, Jonathan. Also, toe the mark.Meet a standard, abide by the rules, as in The new director will make us toe the line, I'm sure, or At daycare Brian has to toe the mark, but at home his mother's quite lenient.This idiom refers to runners in a race placing their toes on the starting line and not moving until the starting signal. *Originally posted by ladydisco * At least somethingblue2u stands up for his beliefs. The origin of the phrase “toe the line” is naval and ancient. Here Are Our Top English Tips, The Best Articles To Improve Your English Language Usage, The Most Common English Language Questions. Thus tow path along a canal where the mule would walk, or tow boat is a boat that pulls barges up and down a canal or river.
"Toe the line" is an idiomatic expression meaning either to conform to a rule or standard, or to stand poised at the starting line in a footrace. Tow line is a rope from a vessel to another vessel or some other force like a mule that pulls the vessel along. It began to be used figuratively in the early nineteenth century. ); in Pugilism, the line drawn across the ring, to which boxers are brought for an encounter. **Umm, perhaps my memory is wrong, or that different ships have different names, but isn’t the left side of a ship the “port” side? In the Royal Navy the official change-in-name took place in 1844. source: The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea, 1 To adhere to doctrines or rules conscientiously; conform. maybe it changes meaning if used like that, i.e. When a ship’s company fell in for formation each watch would line up on their own side of the ship (starboard watch on the right hand side, larboard watch on the left hand side). *Originally posted by Speaker for the Dead * Other phrases which were once used in the early 1800s and have the same meaning were toe the mark and toe the plank .
Under **to toe a or the line, **, the OED says, to stand with the tips of one’s toes exactly touching a line … hence fig. Seems you’ve taken the bull by the horns of a dilemma, as Opus once said. Old English (recorded in towcræft ‘spinning’), of Germanic origin.
**. Also see tows Words similar to towing He was sacked for not toeing the Party line. The Prime Minister is angry because some members of the government are not toeing the line. Hawser : Any heavy wire or line for towing or mooring. I thought that was the phrase’s meaning also [as in ‘to toe the line between high fashion and bad taste’ etc] - i have only ever heard the phrase used in this context in general conversation anyway.
I use the Macquarie Dictionary (http://www.macquariedictionary.com.au) and the Macquarie Dictionary of slang for Australian usages, *Originally posted by yabob * , towing, haul, pull, drawing, drag, trailing, trawl. Urban Dictionary: white people For those that don't know, Urban Dictionary is a website where users can post whatever definition they want for a given word or expression, and the definition gets up-voted or down-voted and the top rated definitions appear at the top. Also, what is the “origin of words” web site that always gets referenced around here? 2 Sports & Games To touch a mark or line with the toe or hands in readiness for the start of a race or competition. NIRP is an acronym which means: Non- Indoctrinated Regular People It is a word used to describe good people who are often on the receiving end of being labelled an ist or a phobe of some sort, just for not towing the Woke Agenda line or by misunderstanding something which would be considered a minor issue at best by regular, everyday people, such as; correct pronoun usage. These Foreign Words And Phrases Are Now Used In English. The post alone, somehow towing the line between r/comedycemetery and r/comedyheaven perfectly, is enough to ruin my day. I had a “discussion” last night about the expression “tow the line”. “Toe the line” as in “Get into formation and shape up, with your toes up to this line on the floor.”. (as in Tow the company line), I think you’re mixing your metaphors. One early use is attributed to Rear Admiral Robert Fitzroy in HMS Beagle (sounds familiar) in 1828 (Darwin was aboard 1831/1836). (of a motor vehicle or boat) pull (another vehicle or boat) along with a rope, chain, or tow bar.
This facial choreography figuratively describes a kind of ironic humor. This information should not be considered complete, up to date, and is not intended to be used in place of a visit, consultation, or advice of a legal, medical, or any other professional. **Am I the only one who thought it meant “to get really close to crossing the line” (as in ‘go too far’)? No cite, but I always believed it was “toe the line” or obey the rules very strictly. A large rope for mooring, towing or securing a ship. HBA : Health Benefit Advisors : Head At the time, it had a population of 600 people, two gas stations, three stores and **Under **to toe a or the line, **, the OED says The earliest citation is from 1813. Does English Have More Words Than Any Other Language? To do what is expected of one. Note that this is an American dictionary, Also the Word Detective at http://www.word-detective.com/backidx.html (US), And World Wide Words at http://www.quinion.com/words/index.htm (British), These will cover most of your questions but there’s a range of other ones as well eg. Are You Learning English? "), To meet a particular standard; to conform strictly to a rule.
Thus tow path along a canal where the mule would walk, or tow boat is a boat that pulls barges up and down a canal or river.
... (1 matching dictionary) towing: ... (1 matching dictionary) towing: Urban Dictionary [home, info] (Note: See tows for more definitions.) Origin probably military, or my high school gym teacher (almost the same thing). *Originally posted by Spavined Gelding * Some references also seem to think that it comes from military inspections. We found 17 dictionaries with English definitions that include the word towing: Click on the first link on a line below to go directly to a page where "towing" is defined. First is the Merriam Webster dictionary at www.m-w.com that often contains word etymologies with their definitions. You can “toe the line,” and you can “adhere to the company line,” but to my knowledge you cannot “toe the company line.”.
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