fall in line

English

Pronunciation

• Audio (General Australian):

  (file)

Verb

fall 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)

1. (idiomatic) To submit to the rules of a higher authority; obey; conform.
   • 1901, Anna Maynard Barbour, chapter 18, in That Mainwaring Affair:

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

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

     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.

2. (Philippines) to line up

Synonyms

• knuckle under

Translations

Translations

• Danish: rette ind (da)
• Finnish: totella (fi), olla ruodussa
• French: rentrer dans le rang (fr)
• Spanish: pasar por el aro

See also

• toe the line