USAGE: towing the line (was: THEORY: no more URs!)

Thomas R. Wier scripsit:

> Towing the line of the department is an all too common frailty,
This is a very interesting expression, and I wonder if it is a
mere brain fart (a typo seems to be ruled out) or a genuine
reanalysis of an old expression no longer understood.  Historically,
one "toed the line" when engaged in competitive running or archery
or such; that is, stood with one's toe at, but not over, the starting
line.  Hence the notion of conforming to the rules.

What do y'all understand by this phrase?

We already have the well-known expression "doggy-dog world"
for "dog-eat-dog world".

--
John Cowan <jcowan@...>     http://www.reutershealth.com
I amar prestar aen, han mathon ne nen,    http://www.ccil.org/~cowan
han mathon ne chae, a han noston ne 'wilith.  --Galadriel, _LOTR:FOTR_

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