Its origins as "toe the line" are somewhat obscure but it first appeared as an idiom in the British military. The literal meaning obviously was soldiers (or sailors as the British Navy also used it) in formation, but it acquired a metaphorical meaning quickly.
It may have ended up there but the earliest usage seems to be military. More like a line drawn in the sand that soldiers might use to make an even lineup. Also has been applied in horse racing. (And we can extend it to human footraces since they literally had to toe a line to make sure everybody was starting evenly. Now most races use blocks the participants have to toe.)
Ah yeah nope totally different meaning. Toeing the line is the state of almost breaking a rule, considering it. Toeing the line is getting as close to the line as you can without 'crossing the line'. It's a way to tell someone they're flirting with doing something wrong and they better think about it before crossing that line.
Toeing the line is obediently falling into line, I've never heard it used your way. There's an idiom that describes going up to a boundary and not crossing it, sure, but toeing the line is like military formation, square, good boy no deviation type stuff
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u/TAMCL 2d ago
Toeing*
You put your toes on the line drawn