walk\ the\ chalk\ line

walk\ the\ chalk\ line
• walk the chalk
• walk the chalk line
• walk the chalk mark
To act exactly as you are supposed to; behave properly; obey.

That new teacher really makes the students walk the chalk.

In some classes the students play and talk, but Mr. Parker makes them walk the chalk.

That theater owner wants his place to be orderly, and if boys and girls don't walk the chalk, he puts them out.

(From the fact that sailors used to be asked to walk a chalk line along the deck of the ship to prove they were not drunk.)
Compare: toe the mark

Словарь американских идиом. — СПб., Изд-во "Лань". . 1997.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • walk the chalk line — phrasal or walk the chalk mark or walk chalk also walk a chalk line : to behave in a strictly disciplined or obedient way : conduct oneself without deviation from propriety …   Useful english dictionary

  • walk a chalk line — phrasal see walk the chalk line …   Useful english dictionary

  • walk\ the\ chalk — • walk the chalk • walk the chalk line • walk the chalk mark To act exactly as you are supposed to; behave properly; obey. That new teacher really makes the students walk the chalk. In some classes the students play and talk, but Mr. Parker makes …   Словарь американских идиом

  • walk\ the\ chalk\ mark — • walk the chalk • walk the chalk line • walk the chalk mark To act exactly as you are supposed to; behave properly; obey. That new teacher really makes the students walk the chalk. In some classes the students play and talk, but Mr. Parker makes …   Словарь американских идиом

  • walk the chalk — or[walk the chalk line] or[walk the chalk mark] To act exactly as you are supposed to; behave properly; obey. * /That new teacher really makes the students walk the chalk./ * /In some classes the students play and talk, but Mr. Parker makes them… …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • walk the chalk — or[walk the chalk line] or[walk the chalk mark] To act exactly as you are supposed to; behave properly; obey. * /That new teacher really makes the students walk the chalk./ * /In some classes the students play and talk, but Mr. Parker makes them… …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • walk the chalk mark — phrasal see walk the chalk line …   Useful english dictionary

  • Chalk Line Walk — Der Cakewalk ist ein Gesellschaftstanz, der um 1850 entstand und zunächst Chalk Line Walk (englisch für „Kreideliniengang“) genannt wurde. Von 1895 bis 1905 wurde der Tanz dann auf der Grundlage von Ragtime Musik als Cakewalk zum bekannten… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • line — See: BLOW ONE S LINES or FLUFF ONE S LINES, CHOW LINE, DOWN THE LINE, DRAW A LINE or DRAW THE LINE, DROP A LINE, END OF THE ROAD or END OF THE LINE, FOUL LINE, GOAL LINE, GOAL LINE STAND, HOLD THE LINE, HOOK, LINE AND SINKER, IN LINE, IN LINE… …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • line — See: BLOW ONE S LINES or FLUFF ONE S LINES, CHOW LINE, DOWN THE LINE, DRAW A LINE or DRAW THE LINE, DROP A LINE, END OF THE ROAD or END OF THE LINE, FOUL LINE, GOAL LINE, GOAL LINE STAND, HOLD THE LINE, HOOK, LINE AND SINKER, IN LINE, IN LINE… …   Dictionary of American idioms

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