fall in line

verb

To submit to the rules of a higher authority; obey; conform.

Similar
knuckle under
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Meanings

verbfall in line (third-person singular simple present falls in line, present participle falling in line, simple past fell in line, past participle fallen in line)

present singular third person falls in line · participle present falling in line · past fell in line · participle past fallen in line

  1. idiomaticTo submit to the rules of a higher authority; obey; conform.

    It will be to your interest to accept my suggestions and fall in line with my plans.

    1901, Anna Maynard Barbour, chapter 18, in That Mainwaring Affair
    1 more example

    If I had your life I'd put my throat to a knife, Fill your days with emptiness, but I don't have the time; I won't grow up, I won't fall in line.

    c. 2004, Career Soldiers, Won't Waste My Life

    Synonyms: knuckle under

  2. PhilippinesarchaicliterallyTo line up.

Synonyms & antonyms

verbTo submit to the rules of a higher authority; obey; conform.

Similar
knuckle under
Also see
conformdeploreknuckle undersurrenderturn in

Translations

Danish rette ind
  • rette indTranslations
Finnish totella, olla ruodussa
  • totellaTranslations
  • olla ruodussaTranslations
French rentrer dans le rang
  • rentrer dans le rangTranslations
Polish podporządkowywać się, podporządkować się
  • podporządkowywać sięTranslations
  • podporządkować sięTranslations
Spanish pasar por el aro
  • pasar por el aroTranslations
Cite this entry
APA

fall in line. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/fall%20in%20line

MLA

“fall in line.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/fall%20in%20line. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “fall in line,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/fall%20in%20line.

Source: fall in line on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.