# toe the line

> English word · Verb

## Definitions
1. To abide by the rules or conventions; (politics, in particular) to follow the party line.
2. To stand at one's mark before a footrace.
3. To be on a boundary or in a grey area between two states.
4. To push boundaries imposed by an authority; to push the envelope; to flirt with crossing the line.

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

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/toe-the-line