Meaning & use
toe the party line
Last updated
Meanings
phraseidiomdisapproving
To publicly follow the official views of a political party or group, even when you may privately disagree.
Grammar: The verb changes for tense: she toes the party line, he toed the party line.
Patterns
- toe the party line on something
- refuse to toe the party line
Several members refused to toe the party line on the tax vote.
He always toes the party line when reporters are listening.
A politician who toes the party line may be rewarded with a senior post.
phraseidiomfigurative
To obey the accepted rules or policy of any organization, company or family without questioning them.
Grammar: Used outside politics too, often about workplaces and teams: employees toe the company line.
Patterns
- toe the line
- toe the company line
New staff were expected to toe the party line about the merger.
The coach wanted players who would toe the party line in public.
She grew tired of toeing the party line at family gatherings.
Word forms
| third person | toes the party line |
|---|---|
| past | toed the party line |
| -ing form | toeing the party line |
Common combinations
- refuse to toe the party line
- The senator refused to toe the party line on the budget.
- expected to toe the party line
- Ministers are expected to toe the party line in public.
- forced to toe the party line
- The editor felt forced to toe the party line after the takeover.
- toe the company line
- Managers toe the company line in every press release.
Synonyms and how they differ
- conform
- Conform is neutral and formal, while toeing the party line suggests loyalty to an official position, often with some silent disagreement.
- comply
- Comply means to do what is required, whereas toe the line implies speaking and acting as the group demands.
- follow orders
- Follow orders refers to carrying out instructions, but toeing the party line is about repeating an agreed opinion.
Opposites
Word family
- toe the line phrase
- to obey rules or authority
- party noun
- a political organization
- partisan adjective
- strongly loyal to one party
- conformist noun
- a person who follows accepted standards
Commonly confused: toe the party line or tow the line?
toe the party line vs tow the line
This is a common misspelling. The idiom comes from toes on a starting line, so toe is correct, not tow.
Practice
Which correctly completes the idiom? Several rebels would not ___ the party line.
Choose one answer.
The idiom is toe the party line, from standing with toes at a mark. Tow is a very common mistake, and two and toss do not form the phrase.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “toe the party line”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.