walk the line

English

Pronunciation

• Audio (AU)

  (file)

Verb

walk the line (third-person singular simple present walks the line, present participle walking the line, simple past and past participle walked the line)

1. (idiomatic) To maintain an intermediate position between contrasting choices, opinions, etc.
   • 1914, Julian Hawthorne, chapter 13, in The Subterranean Brotherhood:

     I sat at dinner, but satisfied myself with nibbling bread crusts, and witnessing the forlorn and perilous efforts of my friends to walk the line between starvation and acute indigestion.

   • 27 January 1992, “It's Twyla Time Again”, in Newsweek‎^[1]:

     I began to walk the line between work and play.

2. (idiomatic) To act in a non destructive or damaging manner, whether physically or mentally to those you hold dear and/or respect. To exercise self-control.
   • 1956, Johnny Cash (lyrics and music), “I Walk the Line”, Sun Records:

     I keep a close watch on this heart of mine
     I keep my eyes wide open all the time
     I keep the ends out for the tie that binds
     Because you're mine, I walk the line.

3. To mark or secure a boundary by walking along it.
   • 1914, Robert Frost, Mending Wall:

     And on a day we meet to walk the line
     And set the wall between us once again.

4. (idiomatic, US, education) To participate in the procession at a graduation ceremony; to graduate.
   • 2002 May 7, Gary Kubota, “Maui girl wins right to forget the dress”, in Honolulu Star-Bulletin‎^[2], archived from the original on 9 April 2006:

     A Baldwin High School student will be able to wear slacks to her graduation ceremony, under an order from the Maui School District. . . . "I'm very glad she'll be able to walk the line with her graduating class," Rosaga said.

   • 13 May 2006, “Graduation 2006: Valedictorian seeks better life for her family”, in Valencia County News-Bulletin.com‎^[3], archived from the original on 16 August 2007:

     Montano's family, including her parents, sons and fiance, Thomas Gallegos, planned to be on hand to see her walk the line and be honored by the UNM-VC Advisory Board, faculty and staff and her fellow associate degree graduates.

See also

• toe the line
• straight and narrow