"toe the party line"

Question

I was reading this article by Tom Shales:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A9627-2004Dec18.html and in it he writes, "toe the party line". I always thought it was spelled "tow" when used in this sense. Can somebody please explain why it is "toe"? And perhaps give some history behind the term?

Thanks.

Jack

Usenet · Accepted Answer

[nq:1]I was reading this article by Tom Shales: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A9627-2004Dec18.html and in it he writes, "toe the party line". I always ... used in this sense. Can somebody please explain why it is "toe"? And perhaps give some history behind the term?[/nq]
Does it make sense that you are towing the party line, dragging it around?
http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=toe+the+line&r=67 #begin quote
toe the line
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. Its figurative use dates from the early 1800s.
#end quote

Even though the world knows that these areas are susceptible to this sort of thing, there apparently are no warning systems in place to attempt to mitigate a disaster like this even for those areas literally a 1000 km away, a distance that puts the inundation, I think, a couple of hours from the original seismic event. It is simply unconscionable that I could find out here in America about this threat before people who are actually at grave risk could.

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]I was reading this article by Tom Shales: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A9627-2004Dec18.html and in it he writes, "toe the party line". I always ... used in this sense. Can somebody please explain why it is "toe"? And perhaps give some history behind the term?[/nq]
Neither meaning nor origin is much of a secret:
http://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-toe2.htm
http://www.randomhouse.com/wotd/index.pperl?date=19990727

http://www.word-detective.com/103001.html#toetheline

http://www.yaelf.com/swot.shtml#whchcrrcttwlnrtln

Bob Lieblich
Found by using AUE-site search with query " "

http://www.wordorigins.org/wordort.htm#toeline

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]I was reading this article by Tom Shales: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A9627-2004Dec18.html and in it he writes, "toe the party line". I always ... used in this sense. Can somebody please explain why it is "toe"? And perhaps give some history behind the term?[/nq]
This is a mixed metaphor with two sources:
#1 is "Toe the line," specifying how runners
stand before beginning a foot race.
#2 is "party line," meaning political party doctrine, a phrase used by Lenin and adopted generally by
Communist parties and some others.
The mixture is thus generally comprehensible
but cannot be coherently analysed. When someone
writes "tow the party line" the case gets even worse.
Don Phillipson
Carlsbad Springs
(Ottawa, Canada)

Usenet · Answer

[nq:2]I was reading this article by Tom Shales: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A9627-2004Dec18.html and ... is "toe"? And perhaps give some history behind the term?[/nq]
[nq:1]This is a mixed metaphor with two sources: #1 is "Toe the line," specifying how runners stand before beginning a foot race.[/nq]
Actually, that's not what is meant. Earlier I posted a few links establishing that it alluded to enforcing conformity or obedience.
[nq:1]#2 is "party line," meaning political party doctrine, a phrase used by Lenin and adopted generally by Communist parties and some others.[/nq]
Enforced conformity to the party line. If the OP is still with us, that ought to dispel any remaining confusion.
[nq:1]The mixture is thus generally comprehensible but cannot be coherently analysed. When someone writes "tow the party line" the case gets even worse.[/nq]
I certainly agree with that last sentence.

Bob Lieblich
Shedding light on this sunny NYD

Usenet · Answer

[nq:2]I was reading this article by Tom Shales: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A9627-2004Dec18.html and ... is "toe"? And perhaps give some history behind the term?[/nq]
[nq:1]This is a mixed metaphor with two sources: #1 is "Toe the line," specifying how runners stand before beginning a foot race.[/nq]
I suppose, then, for short periods of time people are expected to "finger the line" since that's what the runners have on the starting line in dashes.
I've always thought that Jackie Joyner-Kersee should have had to start from a bit further back than the other runners. Her six-inch fingernails were over the line.

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]I was reading this article by Tom Shales: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A9627-2004Dec18.html and in it he writes, "toe the party line". I always ... used in this sense. Can somebody please explain why it is "toe"? And perhaps give some history behind the term?[/nq]
It means we should express our own individuality by giving the toe to the party line. "Giving the toe" means putting something in its place, keeping a proper perspective, and so on.
[nq:1]Thanks.

[/nq]
Any time. : - {)

Charles Riggs
They are no accented letters in my email address

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]I was reading this article by Tom Shales: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A9627-2004Dec18.html and in it he writes, "toe the party line". I always ... used in this sense. Can somebody please explain why it is "toe"? And perhaps give some history behind the term?[/nq]
You're the first person I've come across who has thought that what do you think it means?
[nq:1]Thanks.

Jack[/nq]
Steve Hayes from Tshwane, South Africa
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/7734/stevesig.htm
E-mail - see web page, or parse: shayes at dunelm full stop org full stop uk

Usenet · Answer

[nq:2]I was reading this article by Tom Shales: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A9627-2004Dec18.html and ... is "toe"? And perhaps give some history behind the term?[/nq]
[nq:1]It means we should express our own individuality by giving the toe to the party line. "Giving the toe" means putting something in its place, keeping a proper perspective, and so on.[/nq]
FCOL, Chas. (1) Google affords exactly no confirmation whatsoever to your account of the meaning of the phrase "giving the toe." (Can you direct me to any?) (2) "Giving the toe," even if it means what you say it does, has nothing to do with "toeing the line," a distinct idiom with distinct meaning.
Otherwise, nice post.

Bob Lieblich
Seeking to retain his grip on reality

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]#1 is "Toe the line," specifying how runners stand before beginning a foot race.[/nq]
No, it's a nautical term (like so many sayings in English). The crew would line up for inspection every Sunday using the seams on the deck planking - by putting their toes on the appropriate line (yes, they were often barefoot), they could all be sure they were standing in the right spot.
Bill.

William R Ward (Email Removed) http://bill.wards.net Help save the San Jose Earthquakes - http://www.soccersiliconvalley.com/

Usenet · Answer

[nq:2]It means we should express our own individuality by giving ... in its place, keeping a proper perspective, and so on.[/nq]
[nq:1]FCOL, Chas. (1) Google affords exactly no confirmation whatsoever to your account of the meaning of the phrase "giving the ... means what you say it does, has nothing to do with "toeing the line," a distinct idiom with distinct meaning.[/nq]
Are you saying that Charles's post was wide right?

"toe the party line"

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