My comments:
“Toe the line” is one of the more commonplace jargons one sees in reports on politics.
The line refers to the line along which a political party travels, i.e. its central tenets or doctrines.
To toe the line is for a party member to walk that line carefully, i.e. not to say or do anything in contrary.
Yes, “toe” suggests it’s done carefully. To walk the line, you see, suggests you’re doing it you’re your whole feet. To toe the line, on the other hand, means you’re walking on tiptoes.
Well, politics being politics, perhaps it is just as well.
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About the author:
Zhang Xin(张欣) has been with China Daily since 1988, when he graduated from Beijing Foreign Studies University. Write him at: zhangxin@chinadaily.com.cn, or raise a question for potential use in a future column.