toe the mark

To adhere or conform to the rules of something. From now on, I plan to toe the mark and do exactly what Graham tells me, to avoid getting in any more trouble. I expect you to toe the mark at all times if you want to remain at this firm, Jonathan.

toe the mark

and toe the line

Fig. to do what one is expected to do; to follow the rules. You'll get ahead, Sally. Don't worry. Just toe the mark, and everything will be okay. John finally got fired. He just couldn't learn to toe the line.

toe the line/mark, to

To meet a particular standard; to conform strictly to a rule. The term comes from track, when the runners in a race line up with their toes placed on the starting line or mark. It began to be used figuratively in the early nineteenth century. The OED cites “He began to think it was high time to toe the mark,” from The Diverting History of John Bull and Brother Jonathan (1813) by “H. Bull-Us.”

词组	toe the mark
释义	toe the mark toe the mark To adhere or conform to the rules of something. From now on, I plan to toe the mark and do exactly what Graham tells me, to avoid getting in any more trouble. I expect you to toe the mark at all times if you want to remain at this firm, Jonathan. See also: mark, toe Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. toe the mark and toe the line Fig. to do what one is expected to do; to follow the rules. You'll get ahead, Sally. Don't worry. Just toe the mark, and everything will be okay. John finally got fired. He just couldn't learn to toe the line. See also: mark, toe McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. toe the line/mark, to To meet a particular standard; to conform strictly to a rule. The term comes from track, when the runners in a race line up with their toes placed on the starting line or mark. It began to be used figuratively in the early nineteenth century. The OED cites “He began to think it was high time to toe the mark,” from The Diverting History of John Bull and Brother Jonathan (1813) by “H. Bull-Us.” See also: line, toe The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer See also: keep to (something) play the game play the game, to conform conform to conform to (something) conform with conform with (something) play by (one's) rules play by somebody's rules References in classic literature You's every one on ye got to toe the mark, I tell ye; quick,--straight,--the moment I speak. Uncle Toms Cabin "You may have very good reasons for forgetting your name, and I'll like you none the worse for it as long as you toe the mark. Telegraph Hill, of course, is your port of entry. The Sea Wolf You're tired of trying to toe the mark with such demanding people. Your stars today Romney's family instills the values of hard work and excellence with parents committed to ensuring that their children toe the mark. The result is family success, financial success, and, yes, American success. Post-Convention Bytes: The 2012 Presidential Election And The Obama/Romney Divide "I make them toe the mark. It's a full-body workout." Resident dives into community activism
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