General Discussion

ProgressiveEconomist

(5,818 posts)

41. IMO 2 different metaphors, one a cliche to avoid

Mon Aug 27, 2012, 07:28 PM

Aug 2012

"Toe the line" seems to convey shaping up a ragged formation of soldiers, and has become a very tired cliche.

"Tow the line" seems to refer to exerting dynamic effort on a towline along a nineteenth-century mulepath adjacent to a canal, or in a port setting where small tugboats are docking a ship.

Besides conveying a strong metaphorical image, "tow the line" seems like clever wordplay with a tired cliche.

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Folks, it's "TOE the line" not "TOW the line!" [View all] japple Aug 2012 OP

And it's ROW to HOE slackmaster Aug 2012 #1

What if you're driving to see a prostitute? Atman Aug 2012 #22

hm learned something new, ty nt steve2470 Aug 2012 #46

Irregardless, the point still stands for all intensive purposes. Drunken Irishman Aug 2012 #2

lol nobodyspecial Aug 2012 #5

You deserve a spanking for that! japple Aug 2012 #10

I hate "irregardless". "Regardless" was fine for decades, then common usage of the "irr" version... Scuba Aug 2012 #30

It's gneiss to see that joke made it through. nt NutmegYankee Aug 2012 #52

It's Been Around for a Long Time On the Road Aug 2012 #90

It's a mute point, grntuscarora Aug 2012 #34

It's hard to get all your porpoises in tents. progressoid Aug 2012 #39

Agh! the puns! I'm a teepee! I'm a wigwam! HillWilliam Aug 2012 #86

ostensively a blessing in the skies can make us beg and ax the question CabCurious Aug 2012 #53

Hilarious High Five! n/t renie408 Aug 2012 #66

Irrespective of the evidence, the point still stands for all intensive purposes. CTyankee Aug 2012 #70

You might find the consensus of opinion disagrees with you. Warpy Aug 2012 #75

Unless the reference is a tug boat using a line to tow a barge. Lint Head Aug 2012 #3

In that case, you'd be towing a barge--not towing a line! japple Aug 2012 #27

A tugboat may have many lines onboard, but a hawser is used to tow something. Brother Buzz Aug 2012 #37

Who are you callin' a haw, sir? TheCowsCameHome Aug 2012 #63

If loose and lose can't be mastered by any grown person toe/tow is banned from Kos Aug 2012 #4

Eye luce. ChairmanAgnostic Aug 2012 #8

And apparently: there, their, they're longship Aug 2012 #40

Don't forget you're and your. bvar22 Aug 2012 #45

That, and "Christmas tree's" Wednesdays Aug 2012 #56

I'd settle for writers getting women and woman correct. surrealAmerican Aug 2012 #67

I reject your word fascism CabCurious Aug 2012 #6

I reject your word fascism as well slackmaster Aug 2012 #11

A pox on both your houses! It's "Fascism"! :-) WinkyDink Aug 2012 #14

that's a Lie! CabCurious Aug 2012 #49

To put it in terms you'll understand... pinboy3niner Aug 2012 #21

Your Pet Goat? ChairmanAgnostic Aug 2012 #7

Neither japple Aug 2012 #17

I know, just jesting and joshing with you ChairmanAgnostic Aug 2012 #74

Thank you! HooptieWagon Aug 2012 #9

It's a doggy-dog world. WinkyDink Aug 2012 #12

Good luck on getting your goat back pinboy3niner Aug 2012 #13

irregardless, language is a living thing BOG PERSON Aug 2012 #15

accept when its dead CabCurious Aug 2012 #50

Well, you have to accept when it's dead, too. n/t Wilms Aug 2012 #65

Unless you're a mule hauling a canal boat. trof Aug 2012 #16

Freeper-to-English Glossary thread from the archive..enjoy SoCalDem Aug 2012 #18

I am not cow towing to your demands jberryhill Aug 2012 #19

Stop casting asparagus at people with bad grammer! htuttle Aug 2012 #20

I'll have you know my grammer was a fine, upstanding old lady. nt/ Whisp Aug 2012 #23

There annunciating errors pipoman Aug 2012 #24

The one that gets me is: GoneOffShore Aug 2012 #25

And it's Toad the Wet Sprocket TlalocW Aug 2012 #26

Also... TlalocW Aug 2012 #28

Good lord does anyone want a beer? tow, row, ho, blow southernyankeebelle Aug 2012 #29

I've had a couple already! japple Aug 2012 #31

LOL, what? Beer or blow? southernyankeebelle Aug 2012 #79

I cant bare the thought's of it! Auntie Bush Aug 2012 #60

That's ok honey as long as you know what is meant by the comment. I am happy people care enough to southernyankeebelle Aug 2012 #81

The things we do with words are just some antics. Scuba Aug 2012 #32

punctuation saves lives central scrutinizer Aug 2012 #33

I here it alot! immoderate Aug 2012 #35

Whatever floats your goat. progressoid Aug 2012 #36

Well MyshkinCommaPrince Aug 2012 #38

A rising tide floats all the goats! Sancho Aug 2012 #44

Only if they toe...err...hoof the line. progressoid Aug 2012 #89

IMO 2 different metaphors, one a cliche to avoid ProgressiveEconomist Aug 2012 #41

Yes, all of the sudden he Le Taz Hot Aug 2012 #42

Picky, picky, picky pinboy3niner Aug 2012 #47

What can I say? Le Taz Hot Aug 2012 #64

The guilt is killing me... cynatnite Aug 2012 #43

hurt suit eShirl Aug 2012 #48

This never seizes to amaze me pokerfan Aug 2012 #51

I had went to rateyes Aug 2012 #54

There are so many usage errors SheilaT Aug 2012 #55

Lier! grntuscarora Aug 2012 #61

You laid that on a bit thick Canuckistanian Aug 2012 #68

For that, you win... pinboy3niner Aug 2012 #71

Thank you. I wish to thank the academy for nominating me. SheilaT Aug 2012 #85

"groundation" steve2470 Aug 2012 #57

I'll do whatever I damn well please with the line taterguy Aug 2012 #58

And why is it that Ineeda Aug 2012 #59

Then keep your damn goat fenced in. TheCowsCameHome Aug 2012 #62

I always wince when someone is told to "relax and breath". WillowTree Aug 2012 #69

Was watching Nancy Grace tonight RebelOne Aug 2012 #72

My pet peeves here are "reign in excess" (it's REIN in because ) Warpy Aug 2012 #73

Yes indeed. Stand at attention and put that toe up on that line! MADem Aug 2012 #76

don't forget the "straight jackets" flyingfysh Aug 2012 #77

There is no "r" in the word "idea". TeamPooka Aug 2012 #78

And there's only one u in "nuclear" IDemo Aug 2012 #83

That's a horse of a different feather. RagAss Aug 2012 #80

Tenets not Tenants Moral Compass Aug 2012 #82

No need to cast asparagus, mate. R. Daneel Olivaw Aug 2012 #84

It's "used to" not "use to" as in "I used to go there." Greybnk48 Aug 2012 #87

"Quote" is a verb. "Quotation" is a noun. Mister Ed Aug 2012 #88

Indeed. And it's "Hear hear!" and not "Here here!" MrSlayer Aug 2012 #91