"walk the line" meaning in English

See walk the line in All languages combined, or Wiktionary

Verb

Audio: En-au-walk the line.ogg [Australia] Forms: walks the line [present, singular, third-person], walking the line [participle, present], walked the line [participle, past], walked the line [past]
Head templates: {{en-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. Tags: idiomatic
    Sense id: en-walk_the_line-en-verb-zVkJiEbE
  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. Tags: idiomatic
    Sense id: en-walk_the_line-en-verb-qyBInfoc Categories (other): English entries with incorrect language header, English entries with language name categories using raw markup, English terms with non-redundant non-automated sortkeys Disambiguation of English entries with incorrect language header: 27 42 15 17 Disambiguation of English entries with language name categories using raw markup: 23 38 20 19 Disambiguation of English terms with non-redundant non-automated sortkeys: 21 47 14 18
  3. To mark or secure a boundary by walking along it. Related terms: toe the line, straight and narrow
    Sense id: en-walk_the_line-en-verb-Esin4qwM
  4. (idiomatic, US, education) To participate in the procession at a graduation ceremony; to graduate. Tags: US, idiomatic Categories (topical): Education
    Sense id: en-walk_the_line-en-verb-1PptKmgD Categories (other): American English, English predicates Disambiguation of English predicates: 20 23 17 40 Topics: education

Inflected forms

Download JSON data for walk the line meaning in English (5.2kB)

{
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "walks the line",
      "tags": [
        "present",
        "singular",
        "third-person"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "walking the line",
      "tags": [
        "participle",
        "present"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "walked the line",
      "tags": [
        "participle",
        "past"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "walked the line",
      "tags": [
        "past"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "*"
      },
      "expansion": "walk the line (third-person singular simple present walks the line, present participle walking the line, simple past and past participle walked the line)",
      "name": "en-verb"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "verb",
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [],
      "examples": [
        {
          "ref": "1914, Julian Hawthorne, chapter 13, in The Subterranean Brotherhood",
          "text": "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.",
          "type": "quotation"
        },
        {
          "ref": "27 January 1992, “It's Twyla Time Again”, in Newsweek",
          "text": "I began to walk the line between work and play.",
          "type": "quotation"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "To maintain an intermediate position between contrasting choices, opinions, etc."
      ],
      "id": "en-walk_the_line-en-verb-zVkJiEbE",
      "links": [
        [
          "intermediate",
          "intermediate"
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        [
          "contrasting",
          "contrasting"
        ],
        [
          "choice",
          "choice"
        ],
        [
          "opinion",
          "opinion"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(idiomatic) To maintain an intermediate position between contrasting choices, opinions, etc."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "idiomatic"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "_dis": "27 42 15 17",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English entries with incorrect language header",
          "parents": [
            "Entries with incorrect language header",
            "Entry maintenance"
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          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "23 38 20 19",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English entries with language name categories using raw markup",
          "parents": [
            "Entries with language name categories using raw markup",
            "Entry maintenance"
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          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "21 47 14 18",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English terms with non-redundant non-automated sortkeys",
          "parents": [
            "Terms with non-redundant non-automated sortkeys",
            "Entry maintenance"
          ],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "ref": "1956, Johnny Cash (lyrics and music), “I Walk the Line”, Sun Records",
          "text": "I keep a close watch on this heart of mine\nI keep my eyes wide open all the time\nI keep the ends out for the tie that binds\nBecause you're mine, I walk the line.",
          "type": "quotation"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "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."
      ],
      "id": "en-walk_the_line-en-verb-qyBInfoc",
      "links": [
        [
          "self-control",
          "self-control"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(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."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "idiomatic"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [],
      "examples": [
        {
          "ref": "1914, Robert Frost, Mending Wall",
          "text": "And on a day we meet to walk the line\nAnd set the wall between us once again.",
          "type": "quotation"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "To mark or secure a boundary by walking along it."
      ],
      "id": "en-walk_the_line-en-verb-Esin4qwM",
      "links": [
        [
          "mark",
          "mark"
        ],
        [
          "secure",
          "secure"
        ],
        [
          "boundary",
          "boundary"
        ]
      ],
      "related": [
        {
          "_dis1": "0 0 75 25",
          "word": "toe the line"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "0 0 75 25",
          "word": "straight and narrow"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "American English",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "kind": "topical",
          "langcode": "en",
          "name": "Education",
          "orig": "en:Education",
          "parents": [
            "Society",
            "All topics",
            "Fundamental"
          ],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "20 23 17 40",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English predicates",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "ref": "2002 May 7, Gary Kubota, “Maui girl wins right to forget the dress”, in Honolulu Star-Bulletin, archived from the original on 2006-04-09",
          "text": "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.",
          "type": "quotation"
        },
        {
          "ref": "13 May 2006, “Graduation 2006: Valedictorian seeks better life for her family”, in Valencia County News-Bulletin.com, archived from the original on 2007-08-16",
          "text": "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.",
          "type": "quotation"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "To participate in the procession at a graduation ceremony; to graduate."
      ],
      "id": "en-walk_the_line-en-verb-1PptKmgD",
      "links": [
        [
          "education",
          "education"
        ],
        [
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          "procession"
        ],
        [
          "graduation",
          "graduation"
        ],
        [
          "ceremony",
          "ceremony"
        ],
        [
          "graduate",
          "graduate"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(idiomatic, US, education) To participate in the procession at a graduation ceremony; to graduate."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "US",
        "idiomatic"
      ],
      "topics": [
        "education"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "audio": "En-au-walk the line.ogg",
      "mp3_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/4/49/En-au-walk_the_line.ogg/En-au-walk_the_line.ogg.mp3",
      "ogg_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/49/En-au-walk_the_line.ogg",
      "tags": [
        "Australia"
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      "text": "Audio (AU)"
    }
  ],
  "word": "walk the line"
}
{
  "categories": [
    "English entries with incorrect language header",
    "English entries with language name categories using raw markup",
    "English lemmas",
    "English multiword terms",
    "English predicates",
    "English terms with audio links",
    "English terms with non-redundant non-automated sortkeys",
    "English verbs"
  ],
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "walks the line",
      "tags": [
        "present",
        "singular",
        "third-person"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "walking the line",
      "tags": [
        "participle",
        "present"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "walked the line",
      "tags": [
        "participle",
        "past"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "walked the line",
      "tags": [
        "past"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "*"
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      "expansion": "walk the line (third-person singular simple present walks the line, present participle walking the line, simple past and past participle walked the line)",
      "name": "en-verb"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "verb",
  "related": [
    {
      "word": "toe the line"
    },
    {
      "word": "straight and narrow"
    }
  ],
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        "English idioms",
        "English terms with quotations"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "ref": "1914, Julian Hawthorne, chapter 13, in The Subterranean Brotherhood",
          "text": "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.",
          "type": "quotation"
        },
        {
          "ref": "27 January 1992, “It's Twyla Time Again”, in Newsweek",
          "text": "I began to walk the line between work and play.",
          "type": "quotation"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "To maintain an intermediate position between contrasting choices, opinions, etc."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "intermediate",
          "intermediate"
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          "contrasting",
          "contrasting"
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        [
          "choice",
          "choice"
        ],
        [
          "opinion",
          "opinion"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(idiomatic) To maintain an intermediate position between contrasting choices, opinions, etc."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "idiomatic"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "English idioms",
        "English terms with quotations"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "ref": "1956, Johnny Cash (lyrics and music), “I Walk the Line”, Sun Records",
          "text": "I keep a close watch on this heart of mine\nI keep my eyes wide open all the time\nI keep the ends out for the tie that binds\nBecause you're mine, I walk the line.",
          "type": "quotation"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "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."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "self-control",
          "self-control"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(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."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "idiomatic"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "English terms with quotations",
        "Quotation templates to be cleaned"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "ref": "1914, Robert Frost, Mending Wall",
          "text": "And on a day we meet to walk the line\nAnd set the wall between us once again.",
          "type": "quotation"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "To mark or secure a boundary by walking along it."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "mark",
          "mark"
        ],
        [
          "secure",
          "secure"
        ],
        [
          "boundary",
          "boundary"
        ]
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    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "American English",
        "English idioms",
        "English terms with quotations",
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      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "ref": "2002 May 7, Gary Kubota, “Maui girl wins right to forget the dress”, in Honolulu Star-Bulletin, archived from the original on 2006-04-09",
          "text": "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.",
          "type": "quotation"
        },
        {
          "ref": "13 May 2006, “Graduation 2006: Valedictorian seeks better life for her family”, in Valencia County News-Bulletin.com, archived from the original on 2007-08-16",
          "text": "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.",
          "type": "quotation"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "To participate in the procession at a graduation ceremony; to graduate."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "education",
          "education"
        ],
        [
          "procession",
          "procession"
        ],
        [
          "graduation",
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        ],
        [
          "ceremony",
          "ceremony"
        ],
        [
          "graduate",
          "graduate"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(idiomatic, US, education) To participate in the procession at a graduation ceremony; to graduate."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "US",
        "idiomatic"
      ],
      "topics": [
        "education"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
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      "audio": "En-au-walk the line.ogg",
      "mp3_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/4/49/En-au-walk_the_line.ogg/En-au-walk_the_line.ogg.mp3",
      "ogg_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/49/En-au-walk_the_line.ogg",
      "tags": [
        "Australia"
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    }
  ],
  "word": "walk the line"
}

This page is a part of the kaikki.org machine-readable English dictionary. This dictionary is based on structured data extracted on 2024-05-03 from the enwiktionary dump dated 2024-05-02 using wiktextract (f4fd8c9 and c9440ce). The data shown on this site has been post-processed and various details (e.g., extra categories) removed, some information disambiguated, and additional data merged from other sources. See the raw data download page for the unprocessed wiktextract data.

If you use this data in academic research, please cite Tatu Ylonen: Wiktextract: Wiktionary as Machine-Readable Structured Data, Proceedings of the 13th Conference on Language Resources and Evaluation (LREC), pp. 1317-1325, Marseille, 20-25 June 2022. Linking to the relevant page(s) under https://kaikki.org would also be greatly appreciated.