toe the line
Follow the rules
To toe the line is to conform to rules or standards, to do what's expected or required.
The image is of competitors placing their toes precisely at a starting line, ready to follow the rules of the contest: New employees quickly learn to toe the line.
Sometimes misspelled "tow the line," but the original involves feet, not ropes.
Adhering to requirements
- obedienceCompliance with authority
- adherenceFaithful following of something
- conformanceAdherence to requirements
- observanceKeeping of customs
deference · acquiescence · submission · docility · uniformity · accordance · alignment · convention
Inflexibility in enforcement
- regimenPrescribed course of treatment
- rulesPrinciples governing behavior
- regulationOfficial rules governing conduct
- structureArrangement of interconnected parts
order · protocol · standards · guidelines · enforcement · self-control · restraint · conduct
Pressured compliance through threats
- duressCoercion through threats
- compulsionIrresistible urge to act
- forceStrength or compulsion
- expectationBelief about future outcomes
demand · constraint · ultimatum · threat · intimidation · arm-twisting · strong-arming · squeeze
Ranked authority structure
- commandAuthoritative instruction given
- superiorHigher in rank
- bossWorkplace superior
- leaderOne who guides others
supervisor · manager · director · captain · sergeant · superior officer · chain of command · overseer
compliance
Adhering to requirements
- obedienceCompliance with authority
- adherenceFaithful following of something
- conformanceAdherence to requirements
observance · deference · acquiescence · submission · docility · uniformity · accordance · alignment · convention · orthodoxy
strictness
Inflexibility in enforcement
- regimenPrescribed course of treatment
- rulesPrinciples governing behavior
- regulationOfficial rules governing conduct
structure · order · protocol · standards · guidelines · enforcement · self-control · restraint · conduct · correction
coercion
Pressured compliance through threats
- duressCoercion through threats
- compulsionIrresistible urge to act
- forceStrength or compulsion
expectation · demand · constraint · ultimatum · threat · intimidation · arm-twisting · strong-arming · squeeze · leverage
hierarchy
Ranked authority structure
leader · supervisor · manager · director · captain · sergeant · superior officer · chain of command · overseer · foreman
- conformityconformity, conforming, conform, conformist, conformism
- idiomstime flies, hit the sack, seize the day, ring a bell, break a leg
- social conformityconformist, peer pressure, herd mentality, groupthink, follow the crowd
- follow the crowdconform, go along, copy, mimic, imitate
- Rule-followingstickler, letter of the law, code, protocol, regulation
- accountabilityaccountability, responsibility, accountable, take responsibility, answerability
toe the linedisobey
Refuse to comply
rebel · defy · flout · break the rules · revolt
toe the linerun wild
Behave without restraint
act out · wander · raise hell · go rogue · misbehave
toe the linemarch to a different drummer
Act independently of others
go against the grain · march to one's own drum · think for oneself · break the mold · color outside the lines
line, toe, lines, lined, outline, lining, align, toes, underline