toe the mark
Variant of toe
toe (tō)
noun
- any of the five jointed parts at the front of the human foot; digit
- the forepart of the human foot
- the part of a shoe, sock, etc. that covers the toes
- any of the digits of an animal's foot, or the forepart of a hoof, etc.
- anything suggesting a toe in location, shape, or function; specif.,
- a pivot or journal extending vertically in a bearing
- a projecting arm raised or moved by a cam
Etymology: ME to < OE ta, earlier tahe, akin to Ger zehe < IE base *dei-, to show > teach, L dicere, to say, digitus
transitive verb toed, toeing toe′·ing
- to provide with a toe or toes
- to touch, kick, etc. with the toes to toe a starting line
- Carpentry
- to drive (a nail) slantingly
- to clinch or fasten with nails driven slantingly; toenail
intransitive verb
on one's toes
step on someone's toes
or tread on someone's toestoe the line
or toe the mark- to stand or crouch with the toes touching the starting line of a race, etc.
- to follow orders, rules, doctrines, etc. strictly
Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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