toe the line

动词 v.
中文释义

英文释义

动词 v.
  1. To abide by the rules or conventions; (politics, in particular) to follow the party line. idiomatic
    — Television shows these days do not always toe the line of decency and common sense.
  2. To stand at one's mark before a footrace. idiomatic
    — Alberto Salazar is one of the most famous athletes to have toed the line at this great race.
  3. To be on a boundary or in a grey area between two states. idiomatic
    — Her stories often toe the line between fact and fiction.
  4. To push boundaries imposed by an authority; to push the envelope; to flirt with crossing the line. nonstandard
    — You were really toeing the line there with those comments.

词形变化

toes the line present,singular,third-person toeing the line participle,present toed the line participle,past toed the line past tow the line alternative

词源

Unknown, with multiple competing etymologies and some theorizing the phrasing originated from the United States and others the United Kingdom.
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