Toe the line

Those suggested are from public school, the armed services, Bare Knuckle Boxing, or possibly the British House of Commons.

In the earliest known appearance of the phrase in print, The Army Regulator, 1738, an officer forming ranks of soldiers says: "Silence you dogs, toe the line...".

" [3] The phrase "toeing a line" appeared in Captain Maryatt's story "Poor Jack", which was published in several American newspapers in 1841.

[5] The first known mention of this use in literature stems from a story about navy life widely published in 1831 and written by Captain Basil Hall RN.

There are loops of pink ribbon in the Members' cloakroom for MPs to hang up their swords before entering the Chamber to this very day as a result of this rule.

[12] Byam Shaw's painting Toeing the Line, depicting a scene at Ascot, alludes to it being a term used in horse racing.

The first published use in a political context was in March 1826, where Willie Mangum of the United States House of Representatives proposed that "every member might 'toe the mark'.

Some barracks have two solid lines, each approximately three inches wide and placed five feet apart, either taped or painted, running down the center of the entire length of their floor.