fall in line

Idioms and Phrases

Also, fall into line . Adhere to established rules or predetermined courses of action. For example, This idea falls in line with the entire agenda , or It wasn't easy to get all the tenants to fall into line concerning the rent hike . A related term is bring into line, meaning “to make someone fit established rules,” as in It was her job to bring her class into line with the others . These terms employ line in the sense of “alignment,” a usage dating from about 1500.