toe the line

規則に従う、方針に従う

規則に従ったり、集団や責任者の求めるとおりに行動したりすること。

やさしい英語で： To follow rules or do what a group or person in charge expects.

• Everyone here must toe the line.
• She lost her job for refusing to toe the line.
• The party expects its members to toe the line.

類義語： obey, conform, comply

反対語： rebel, disobey

よく使う表現： toe the line, toe the party line

境界線上にある、際どいところにある

異なる二つの性質や状態の境目に非常に近いところにあること。

やさしい英語で： To be very close to the boundary between two different qualities or states.

• Her stories toe the line between fact and fiction.
• The advertisement toed the line between honesty and deception.
• Does this behaviour toe the line between legal and illegal?

使い方： toe the line between A and B (His jokes toe the line between funny and cruel.)

類義語： straddle the boundary, walk the line

よく使う表現： toe the line, toe the line between

スタートラインに立つ

競走が始まる前にスタートラインで位置につくこと。

やさしい英語で： To take your place at the starting line before a running race.

• The runners toed the line.
• She will toe the line at her first marathon tomorrow.
• He was nervous as he toed the line before the final.

使い方： toe the line at a race (Hundreds of runners toed the line at the city marathon.)

類義語： take one's starting position

よく使う表現： toe the line, toe the line again