walk the chalk

[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 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.

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Source: A Dictionary of American Idioms


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	mark [mark] See: MAKE ONE'S MARK, TOE THE LINE or TOE THE MARK, UP TO THE ... A Dictionary of American Idioms toe the line [toe the line] or [toe the mark] {v. phr.} To be very careful to do ... A Dictionary of American Idioms line [line] See: BLOW ONE'S LINES or FLUFF ONE'S LINES, CHOW LINE, DOWN THE LINE, DRAW ... A Dictionary of American Idioms chalk [chalk] See: WALK THE CHALK. A Dictionary of American Idioms walk the plank [walk the plank] {v. phr.} 1. To walk off a board extended over the side ... A Dictionary of American Idioms walk over [walk over] or [walk all over] or [step all over] {v. phr.} {informal} To make ... A Dictionary of American Idioms walk of life [walk of life] {n. phr.} Way of living; manner in which people live. * /Many ... A Dictionary of American Idioms

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