walks the line
Treads the boundary
Walks the line means to maintain a careful balance between competing demands or to stay within acceptable boundaries.
Someone who walks the line between humor and offense risks crossing into one or the other.
The phrase can also mean behaving properly, staying out of trouble: He's been walking the line since his parole.
From the image of walking a tightrope or following a narrow path.
- self-restraintVoluntary impulse control
- integrityMoral soundness and consistency
- negotiationDiscussion seeking mutual accord
- self-controlAbility to restrain impulses
- equilibriumState of balance
compromise · temperance · mediation · honesty · moral compass · straight and narrow · adaptability · tact · tightrope · balancing act · Johnny Cash · commitment · gray area · discretion · impartiality · duality · middle ground · steadiness
walks the linecommits
Pledges to do
takes the plunge · doubles down · goes to the mat · polarizes · extremist
walks the linecrosses the line
Violates accepted boundaries
breaks the rules · colors outside the lines · rebels · steps out of line · acts out
walks the lineplays with fire
Acts recklessly despite consequences
lives dangerously · rolls the dice · reckless · goes out on a limb · pushes one's luck
walk, walks, walked, walking, walker, walkers, walkway, walkways, line