toe the line

verb

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

1. To abide by the rules or conventions; (politics, in particular) to follow the party line.

   “Television shows these days do not always toe the line of decency and common sense.”

   “The matter, therefore, necessarily became rather serious; and the whole gang of us being sent for on the quarter deck, we were ranged in a line, each with his toes at the edge of a plank, according to the orthodox fashion of these gregarious scoldings, technically called ‘toe-the-line matches.’”

2. To stand at one's mark before a footrace.

   “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.

   “Her stories often toe the line between fact and fiction.”

   “Still other performers like St. Louis's Nelly or Long Beach's Domino toed the line between rapper and singer, defying easy categorization.”

4. To push boundaries imposed by an authority; to push the envelope; to flirt with crossing the line.

   “You were really toeing the line there with those comments.”

   “"I happen to agree with you," he said. "But they don't want to leave themselves open to getting sued. And anyway, you're really sort of toeing the line with this video to start with. It's pretty risqué."”