Tow the Line

Tow the line, which means "to comply to an established norm," is another classic eggcorn. Toeing the line is the proper expression, with a "e" in place of a "w." The phrase's origins are unclear, although one widely accepted myth asserts that it has to do with British politics because there are two lines painted on the floor of the House of Commons that divide the front benches of the two major parties. The Speaker of the House would then remind an MP to toe the line, or go back behind the line on the floor, if they had gotten a bit too close to their adversaries during a contentious argument.

This is a fiction, but in the 19th century, terms like "toe the mark," "toe the trig," and "toe the scratch" were more frequently used. Therefore, the phrase "toe the line" would not have been too confusing back then. However, as the word "tow" is now more frequently used as a verb, those who first heard the expression believed it was written with a "w." They spread this false knowledge, and a new eggcorn was created as a result.