walk the line

English

Pronunciation

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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.
3. To mark or secure a boundary by walking along it.
4. (idiomatic, US, education) To participate in the procession at a graduation ceremony; to graduate.
   • 13 May 2006, “Graduation 2006: Valedictorian seeks better life for her family”, in Valencia County News-Bulletin.com‎^[2], retrieved 12 June 2008:

     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
• The straight and narrow.