to fall in line
26
4.3
- phrasal verb
- /fɔl ɪn laɪn/
- Informal
- The new employee quickly learned to fall in line with the company's rules and expectations.
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Watch on YouTubeHow how many countries are falling in line with this so far?
- How how many countries are falling in line with this so far?
- He has to fall in line with you right now.
- If you don't fall in line, I'll make you walk the plank.
- Forget what this world has taught us to fall in line.
- I'll deprive you of opportunities until you fall in line.
- If you are falling in line with a power structure, it's often very difficult to navigate it.
- But I will say, to see everyone fall in line so quickly is fascinating.
- Or would you think Gorsuch will be falling in line with Thomas or will Thomas, you know, kind of dominate a, you know, opinions going forward?
Examples
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But I will say, to see everyone fall in line so quickly is fascinating.
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Advertising is so powerful that most people just fall in line with it.
Blog text (15) -
You have two options, either fight each other or fall in line, work together.
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If you hold women to them, they will fall in line or fall away.
Blog text (23) -
You see how quickly those folks fall in line.
Fiction book (1995) -
Conformity is how they gain their sense of purpose, and they expected us to fall in line as well.
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I found that my plan for life usually doesn't fall in line with reality.
Blog text (23) -
We've looked over your report and it seems to fall in line with Agent Wheeler's statement.
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In time, their professional values become compromised, and in an effort to subsist, they fall in line and abandon ship.
Academic text (1998) -
Many of the Democrats in the legislature also fall in line and do what they're told by George Norcross.
Blog text (22)
Synonyms
∞
1.0
To act according to rules, advice, or beliefs
316
1.0
Do what someone in charge tells you or follow a rule
245
3.8
Do what a rule or person asks
123
2.9
To do what a person in charge tells you without asking questions
98
4.7
Continue to follow and support a rule, belief, or person
95
3.9
To follow rules or instructions
87
3.5
To accept and follow a rule, decision, or agreement
84
3.2
Think and act like other people or follow rules
80
2.8
Do what a rule says
78
1.8
To follow a rule or plan
58
3.7
Do what rules or standards say you must
16
5.4
To do what people in charge expect and follow the rules exactly
4
8.2
Agree with others to avoid conflict
Antonyms
How Compliant
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase maps fairly directly from a physical image—literally entering or joining a line—to the social meaning of aligning with others or rules, so a learner who knows 'fall', 'in' and 'line' can often infer the sense. However, the shift from physical position to social conformity is a metaphorical extension and not fully predictable from the parts alone, so it is only partially transparent to a B1 learner.
Etymology
Fall in line comes from soldiers who were told to stand one behind another in a straight row. To fall in meant to move into a place in the line, so when someone 'falls in line' now they join the group and 'conform' or 'agree' with others.