toed the line of...

[learning101]

Hi all,
Here is an extract from the site: www.ricemedia.co titled "Unpacking Gender Roles With My Ma, a First-Time Store Owner at 48"

"...She tells me of patrons who spoke to her in a condescending and rude tone, even though she had been courteous and did nothing for them to behave that way. Sometimes, it even toed the line of verbal abuse when they raised their voices against her..."​

As suggested in the title of the thread, I'm not sure about the meaning of the phrase used. From what I checked, it means to accept something unwilling. But, it doesn't make sense to me. Should the context use different phrase?

 

[Barque]

There's another idiom, "to cross a line", which refers to crossing the "line" separating polite and impolite behaviour. The writer means "It almost crossed the line (separating normal speech and verbal abuse)". They came close it, just touching it with their toes, so to speak.

You're right in that "toed the line" is used in a different context. The writer's used it differently here, perhaps deliberately, or has confused it with "almost crossed the line".

 

[Tarheel]

I would use skirted instead of toed.

 

[donghongzi]

Not a teacher

To "toe the line" means to adhere to a set of rules or expectations, or to conform to a particular standard of behavior.

In the context of the original text, "toed the line of verbal abuse" means that the patrons' behavior approached, but did not quite cross over into, the realm of verbal abuse. It suggests that their behavior was close to being considered verbal abuse, but it did not quite meet the threshold for being classified as such.

And e here are a few alternative phrases or ways to express the same idea as "toed the line of verbal abuse" in the original text:

• "came close to verbal abuse"
• "approached the level of verbal abuse"
• "bordered on verbal abuse"
• "verged on verbal abuse"
• "skirted the line of verbal abuse"
• "narrowly avoided crossing the line into verbal abuse"

 

[5jj]

In the context of the original text, "toed the line of verbal abuse" means that the patrons' behavior approached, but did not quite cross over into, the realm of verbal abuse. It suggests that their behavior was close to being considered verbal abuse, but it did not quite meet the threshold for being classified as such.

It may possibly mean that in Singapore English, but it doesn't in BrE. Like Barque, I think the writer has confused it with "almost crossed the line".