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as there seemed to be

Glossary entry

English term or phrase:

to tow the mark

English answer:

to follow the rules

Added to glossary by Mazyoun
May 27, 2005 07:17
19 yrs ago
English term

to tow the mark

English Other Other
Parents have the same goals frequently, which is terrific. But they tend to go at it in different ways. And you know, opposites attract. So hard people marrying soft people, vivacious people marrying quieter people. And it comes out in the discipline. What I like is that they both see the needs of the kids to tow the mark a little bit.
Responses
4 +4 to follow the rules
4 +1 UK = to toe the line (as extra info only)
4 +1 toe the line
3 to obey the rules

Discussion

Anna Moorby DipTrans May 27, 2005:
Here's an interesting webpage about the expression:
http://www.shaksper.net/archives/2000/0873.html

Responses

+4
8 mins
Selected

to follow the rules

"to*e* the mark"

The phrase "toe the line" is equivalent to "toe the mark," both of which mean to conform to a rule or a standard. The Oxford Dictionary of Word Histories (Oxford: Oxford Univ. Press, 2002; ed. by Glynnis Chantrell) says, "The idiom toe the line from an athletics analogy originated in the early 19th century" (514).
http://www.grammartips.homestead.com/toetheline.html
Peer comment(s):
agree Ian M-H (X)
0 min
agree Tony M
2 mins
agree Anna Moorby DipTrans : tow the mark/line is also used, but apparently an Americanism xx
12 mins
neutral airmailrpl : tow the mark/line is used incorrectly - see the reference below !!..actually I was responding to Anna's affirmation - though you really didn't state that 'tow' is incorrect !! ..I would rather 'tow' your 'mark' without being 'toady' about it.
41 mins
As I said in my answer, which you apparently didn't read. // Or are you pulling my tow?
agree Alfa Trans (X)
10 hrs
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Thanks"
+1
35 mins

UK = to toe the line (as extra info only)

keep within pre-set boundaries. Not to go beyond a line set for discipline purposes
Peer comment(s):
agree sarahl (X) : US too :-) stay on the straight and narrow
33 mins
Something went wrong...
50 mins

to obey the rules

....the kids to obey the rules a little bit
Something went wrong...
+1
47 mins

toe the line

But it's worth noting that Google gives another familiar expression "toe the line" 13,200 entries and the clearly mistaken "tow the line" (with a good deal of back-formed folk explanation over "tow') a healthy 3,400. Moreover, "toe the mark" has 1,120 entries and the unintelligible "tow the mark" 136. Perhaps listmembers will enjoy running their own favorite misusages through Google and report on its reliability as a guide to correctness.
http://www.shaksper.net/archives/2003/1954.html

I reeally wonder what kind of equipment would be needed to 'tow a mark'?? And where would you 'tow' it to?? And where would you put it after you managed to 'tow' it there?? I am imagining a whole pile of 'towed marks' just sitting out in the rain for days on end and nobody really knows what to do with them. Maybe it could be changed to a 'TOAD MARK' - now that would really be an innovation. I suppose most 'Toads' really do have 'Marks' - and probably a bunch of 'Marks' also have 'Toads'. So much for doing KudoZ at 5 a.m.

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Note added at 1 hr 26 mins (2005-05-27 08:44:09 GMT)
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toady: Definition, Synonyms and Much More From Answers.com
toad·y ( tō \' dē ) n. , pl. -ies . A person who flatters or defers to others for self-serving reasons; a sycophant.
www.answers.com/topic/toady

Who\'ll make his mark the Captain cried / Pirates
... Who\'ll make his mark the Captain cried To the Devil drink a toast We\'ll glut the hold with cups of gold And we\'ll feed the sea with ghosts ...
www.musicanet.org/robokopp/shanty/elpirate.htm

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Note added at 1 hr 40 mins (2005-05-27 08:57:31 GMT)
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Maybe the \'Marks\' being \'Towed\' are left over \'Deutsche Marks\' - but then there is still the problem of what to do with them as they are probably not converitble anymore now that the Euro has gone into effect - though if France does vote \'No\' - then maybe the Euro will end up being \'towed\' along with the \'Marks\' .
Peer comment(s):
agree John Bowden : ANd if a colleague was always trying to ingratiate himself with the boss, he could be "Toady Mark" ;-)
19 mins
More so if he happened to be named 'Mark' but if named 'Toady' he would be 'making his Mark'
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