ok pet peeve rant-- it's "toe the line" NOT "tow the line"

[NMDemDist2]

toe the line/mark
1. To adhere to doctrines or rules conscientiously; conform.

2.Sports & Games To touch a mark or line with the toe or hands in readiness for the start of a race or competition.

While it also makes sense (sort of) to use "tow the line" as in to pull along with the group, the expression is "toe the line"

[laruemtt]

1. "went missing"

huh??? how do you go missing? makes no sense at all.

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

2. "Toe the line"

comes from the military. During basic training, when you were at attention at the foot of your bunk, there was a line painted on the floor. You had to "toe the line", or make sure your toes were RIGHT on it.

Also it's "hear, hear" not "here, here."

[Spider Jerusalem]

3. Actually, it comes from boxing.

In the old bare-knuckle days of the eightweenth and nineteenth century, there was a line in the centre of the ring, and each boxer had to "toe the line" at the beginning of each round, or he was counted out. The line was also referred to as "the scratch" (frequently scratched into dirt in an outdoor ring), and "toeing the line" was also known as "coming up to scratch".

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

11. No

it really came from military usage. I have a dictionary of idioms right here.

[Selwynn]

19. .

[Selwynn]

24. Ok everyone's right. :)

"Toe the line is the survivor of a set of phrases that were common in the nineteenth century; others were toe the mark, toe the scratch, toe the crack, or toe the trig. In every case, the image was that of men lining up with the tips of their toes touching some line. They might be on parade, or preparing to undertake some task, or in readiness for a race or fight. The earliest recorded form is dated 1813, in a book by Hector Bull-Us (a pseudonym, you will not be surprised to hear, in this case of James Kirke Paulding) with the title The Diverting History of John Bull and Brother Jonathan. This already had the modern figurative sense of conforming to the usual standards or rules: “He began to think it was high time to toe the mark”.

Also British Navy from about the same time period, early 1800's and I have no idea which came first. :)

So I'll retract and just say it was a common usage term popular in the nineteenth century for many things, and its origins are not certain, though it was certainly used in boxing as I mentioned, on the streets, and apparently in the navy.

[BlueJazz]

43. You are both wrong.....

It came from the early days of "The Barnum and Baily circus"
Before there was motorized vehicles, the crews at large circus had to
load the animals in huge drawn wagons. Some would get on the wagon rather easily while
others had to be forced to load..
The worst animals were the Lions because (obviously) of their claws
and fangs.
So...The bravest Men would attach a long rope around the Beast and pull
the large cat into the wagon...hence "Towing the Lion"

BTW..I'm full of shit!

[Liberal Veteran]

4. Prove it to the pudding.

I had a co-worker who said that constantly. Since it made her sound like a complete moron and she was often competing for the same job I never bothered to correct her.

The proof is in the pudding.

[Craig Roberts]

15. ...

"I had a co-worker who said that constantly. Since it made her sound like a complete moron and she was often competing for the same job I never bothered to correct her."

ROFL. You're eeeveeel.

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

16. Or she's smart.

Or both. I say she's smart. I would do the same damn thing.

[Liberal Veteran]

17. That would be "He".

I am gay, but I don't think I am quite nelly enough to be referred to as she yet!

:)

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

23. Ooops it was the cats, sorry

though I shouldn't have done that, since I know loads of guys who love cats (and they aren't all gay. The guys, not the cats....oh nevermind!).

[meti57b]

25. Actually, it's "the proof of the pudding is in the eating".

[smirkymonkey]

36. I hope you gave her a good slap!

Arghhhhhhhhhhh....

[achtung_circus]

39. Or

"The proof of the pudding is in the eating"
My Scots Granny INSISTED on this version.

[Nlighten1]

5. "brand new"

It is either new or it isn't.

[Gildor Inglorion]

6. Charles Dickens said "bran-new"

which never made any sense to me, either. But "brand new" is more sensible than "completely unique," which one also hears frequently, or "entirely superfluous."

[SemiCharmedQuark]

7. "Head over Heels" "I could care less"

Everyone is ALWAYS head over heels, it's how we move around. And of course, it's I COULDN'T care less as we could all care less about anything.

[Selwynn]

20. I love the second one - I always ask, "then why don't you?" :)

[NMDemDist2]

8. LOL don't you just love "pet peeve" rant threads

thanks all for adding your own :)

[Dogmudgeon]

9. For All Intensive Purposes

Eeek! Eeek!

--bkl

[NMDemDist2]

18. intensive purposes??? ROFL i have never heard that one n/t

[Selwynn]

21. LOL!!!!

[arwalden]

32. OMG... I'm Going To Have To Make A Point To Use That

the next time I'm feeling silly and want to see if someone is paying attention.

-- Allen

[TheDebbieDee]

10. I should of, you should of, we should of, they should of.......

instead of I should have, you should have, we should have, they should have......

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

13. ACK!!!!

[mykpart]

40. Or, I had of.

[NV Whino]

12. It doesn't JIBE.

Not, it doesn't jive. Caught Mr Pitt misusing that one.

Jibe: to agree; be in accordance.

[Dogmudgeon]

29. Dr. WillPitt and Mr. Jibe

He might use the occasional word incorrectly, but what he does with the English language as a whole makes me swoon with envy.

--bkl

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

14. As an English teacher

those things drive me crazy.

My VERY literate, very educated friend once said "irregardless" and I thought I was going to claw my face off.

Can't stand that "word."

[Dogmudgeon]

30. Irregardless

Actually, it follows an "accepted" construction, like "inflammable" and "intimidate".

I have more patience with new coinages from an old die than with out-and-out solecisms.

I also speak/read/write in Esperanto. Feel my pain!

--bkl
And to think that I also want to become fluent in Spanish, French, Basque, and Volapük.

[trof]

22. Unless you're pulling a line or rope.

The tow the line, as in "towline" would be correct.
;-)

[TheDebbieDee]

26. Kicked to the curve........

instead of "Kicked to the curb".

[Karenina]

34. Actually, "kicked (his ass) to the curb"

is what women do to their lyin' cheatin,' energy-vampire boyfriends.
:evilgrin:

[TheDebbieDee]

27. Oh, and "Marshall Law"..........

instead of "Martial Law"

[NMDemDist2]

28. oooo that's another one of mine too n/t

[Dogmudgeon]

31. Dampen for Damp

To Damp means to reduce the intensity of something. Originally, it was probably applied to fireplaces, similar to the verb To Bank.

To Dampen is to moisten.

When one dampens enthusiasm, one wets it. It pairs nicely with the metaphor "to throw a bucket of water on (something)" but it's just wrong.

Sorry to damp anyone's pleasure in using that verb!

--bkl

[Zomby Woof]

33. "prolly", w00t!, and the apostrophe-challenged

Just to skim the surface.

[NMDemDist2]

38. ahh you searched all my back posts to find my one little laziness

didn't you?

its prolly for all intensive purposes you new hobby :smoke:


:bounce:

[Zomby Woof]

46. I never knew you did it

It's the dumb teens who usually use it.

You shouldn't have told me you used it before. Now I will hold it over your head forever.

[DS1]

35. thank you

I hate that too

[smirkymonkey]

37. "A whole nuther"

as in "a whole nuthter story" instead of "another story"

[mykpart]

41. Spitting image

should be "spit and image."

But the worst is when someone speaks of a MUTE point!

[NashVegas]

42. The Exception Proves the Rule

I never liked that one to begin with.

[Papillon]

44. How about

I'm going to try "and" go...which should be
I'm going to try "to" go...

[mykpart]

45. Here's one my grandmother always hated:

"Nauseated" means having the feeling of nausea, (or having an upset stomach).

"Nauseous" means causing nausea.

So whenever someone said they were "nauseous" she would answer, "you certainly are!"

[SidDithers]

47. "less" instead of "fewer"....

less calories? fewer calories. less stupid.

Sid