walk the line

verb

To maintain an intermediate position between contrasting choices, opinions, etc.

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Meanings

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

present singular third person walks the line · participle present walking the line · participle past walked the line · past walked the line

  1. idiomaticTo maintain an intermediate position between contrasting choices, opinions, etc.

    I began to walk the line between work and play.

    27 January 1992, “It's Twyla Time Again”, in Newsweek
    1 more example

    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.

    1914, Julian Hawthorne, chapter 13, in The Subterranean Brotherhood
  2. idiomaticTo act in a non-destructive or damaging manner, whether physically or mentally to those you hold dear and/or respect; to exercise self-control.

    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.

    1956, Johnny Cash, “I Walk the Line”, Sun Records
  3. To mark or secure a boundary by walking along it.

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

    1914, Robert Frost, Mending Wall
  4. USidiomaticeducationTo participate in the procession at a graduation ceremony; to graduate.

    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.

    2002 May 7, Gary Kubota, “Maui girl wins right to forget the dress”, in Honolulu Star-Bulletin, archived from the original on 09 Apr 2006
    1 more example

    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.

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

Synonyms & antonyms

Also see
toe the line
Cite this entry
APA

walk the line. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/walk%20the%20line

MLA

“walk the line.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/walk%20the%20line. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “walk the line,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/walk%20the%20line.

Source: walk the line on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.