Party Line

[Thadeus]

"Toe the party line"

or is it "Tote the party line"
or is it "Tow the party line"

This phrase was in another post in another forum, but it got me to wondering the etymology and correct wording...

Anyone care to fill in the details?

~Thadeus

 

[CrystalStart]

could that be tippi-toe the party line? :-D

 

[SilentAiche]

For frog politians, its "Toad the party line."

Tim

 

[strongm]

It is "toe"

Derivation is slightly uncertain, but seems to be related either to the starting line of a race, or a line drawn on the parade ground with which new recruits were expected line up against. I prefer the second, as it seems a better match against the ideas of conformity and order that the phrase engenders

 

[SkipVought]

I always considered it to be,

Toe the party line. -- keep in step with, march to the orders of, parrot the ideas of the directions dictated by the party muckity mucks.

I could see, however, how that could be interpreted as toting or towing: carrying the water for, getting into the harness with, pulling together for the party line.

Skip,

_{[red]Be advised:[/red] The dyslexic, agnostic, insomniac, lays awake all night wondering...
"Is there really a DOG?"}

 

[CajunCenturion]

Toe the party line is actually a combination of two separate phrases.

The first phrase -- 'the party line' -- goes back to the early 1800's and refers to the policies and positions adopted by a political party.

The second phrase - 'toe the line' -- has dubious origins, as strongm has offered, but most all seem to revolve around lining up in conformance to a standard, be it the start of a race, where everyone's toes are lined up, a military formation again with everyone similarly lined up, boxing inspection where the boxers stand side by side (toes lined up), and/or several other possibilities. One source cites it as a nautical term where the sailors are all to line up with their toes flush against a seam in the decking.

It's not clear when the two phrases merged.

Good Luck
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[tsdragon]

It's not clear when the two phrases merged

I wasn't aware that they had. This is the first time I've seen (or heard) them merged.


Tracy Dryden

Meddle not in the affairs of dragons,
For you are crunchy, and good with mustard.

 

[SantaMufasa]

Actually,

I have it on good authority that the term "toe the party line" derives from a rather exotic game from the alternative communities of San Francisco and New York. At parties, a person is blindfolded while all the other party goers sit down in a line with their bare feet lined up in a row. The blindfolded person then must identify her/his partner by touching her/his big toe to the toe(s) of those in the line...thus "toeing the party line".



Mufasa
(aka Dave of Sandy, Utah, USA)

http://www.dasages.com

Do you use Oracle and live or work in Utah, USA?
Then click here to join Utah Oracle Users Group on Tek-Tips.

 

[CajunCenturion]

==> I have it on good authority ????
:-D


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[SantaMufasa]

...Not first-hand...That's my story, and I'm sticking to it!

Mufasa
(aka Dave of Sandy, Utah, USA)

http://www.dasages.com

Do you use Oracle and live or work in Utah, USA?
Then click here to join Utah Oracle Users Group on Tek-Tips.

 

[CajunCenturion]

==> ...Not first-hand.
But on first toe perhaps?

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[SantaMufasa]

Curses, CC,...foiled again! Oops, that's yet another party game.

Mufasa
(aka Dave of Sandy, Utah, USA)

http://www.dasages.com

Do you use Oracle and live or work in Utah, USA?
Then click here to join Utah Oracle Users Group on Tek-Tips.

 

[CajunCenturion]

Good Luck
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As a circle of light increases so does the circumference of darkness around it. - Albert Einstein

 

[GPOTony]

There is a country song "You Can't Make A Heel Toe The Line".
I think it was written by Hanlan Howard and sung by Johnny Cash.

 

[Thadeus]

Thank you everyone for your responses... I like to dig into these things myself (as should be obvious given some of my past posts), but didn't have the time nor energy to look into this one.

Thanks again,
~Thadeus

 

[donbott]

I don't know, all this word play tickles my sole. Suppose your arch enemy got a hold of you in a game af Toe the
party Line? Would the heel try to get you to march instep with him?

DonBott

 

[SF0751]

That would a very callous thing to do.

Susan
"Few things are harder to put up with than the annoyance of a good example." - Mark Twain, Pudd'nhead Wilson (1894)

 

[AnotherHiggins]

You guys are kinda corny.

[tt]-John[/tt]
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[Stella001]

I agree with higgins, so this little piggy is going home.

 

[SkipVought]

All except the arch enemies.

Skip,

_{[red]Be advised:[/red] The dyslexic, agnostic, insomniac, lays awake all night wondering...
"Is there really a DOG?"}