Biblical link to
John 8 (
John 8:6). Some have (perhaps erroneously) interpreted Jesus' writing in the sand, as drawing a line in the sand in order to address those who are about to stone a woman caught in adultery. However, the literal translation is not that he drew a line in the sand, but that he "wrote" (or "drew lines" in some translations) in the sand, an important distinction.
The exact origin of the phrase is unknown: the Oxford English Dictionary suggests a transitional use from 1950, but a definitely figurative use only as late as 1978:
He drew a line in the sand with the toe of his boot, and said, 'It's as though I told you "I can punch you in the nose, but you can't reach across that line to hit me back."'
Notwithstanding the supposed public revulsion toward more federal spending, waste and bureaucracy-building, Congress seems to have gone out of its way to draw a wide line in the sand in front of Carter.
There is reference to an actual line being drawn in several historical, or legendary, military events:
One of the earliest recorded instance is in Indian
epicRamayana where
Lakshmana draws a line around the dwelling to protect
Sita. This phrase is often used in India even today, and is called
Lakshman Rekha.
In 168 BC, a Roman Consul named
Gaius Popillius Laenas drew a circular line in the sand around King
Antiochus IV of the
Seleucid Empire, then said, "Before you cross this circle I want you to give me a reply for the Roman Senate" – implying that Rome would declare war if the King stepped out of the circle without committing to leave Egypt immediately. Weighing his options, Antiochus wisely decided to withdraw. Only then did Popillius agree to shake hands with him.
In 1527, during the second expedition for the conquest of
Peru, the Governor of Panama sent two ships to Isla de Gallo to rescue
Francisco Pizarro and his troops. Pizarro drew a line in the sand, saying: "There lies Peru with its riches; Here, Panama and its poverty. Choose, each man, what best becomes a brave Castilian." Only thirteen men (
The Famous Thirteen) continued with Pizarro, the others left for Panama.
In 1807 or 1808, the
Māori tribe
Ngāti Whātua won a battle against their
Ngāpuhi enemies on a beach at
Moremonui in the far north of
New Zealand. One of the victorious chiefs, Taoho, drew a line in the sand with his spear and ordered that no Ngāpuhi were to be slain beyond that point. This battle, the first of the
Musket Wars, was called Te Kai a te Karoro (the Feast of the Seagulls) because seagulls joined the victors in eating the slain.[2]
In the United States, the phrase is most commonly associated with
Texas history surrounding the
Battle of the Alamo, as it is attributed to Colonel
William Travis, commander of the Alamo defense forces.[3] In the waning days of the Battle (somewhere during March 3–5, 1836), with Mexican General
Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna having the Alamo completely surrounded, Santa Anna sent a messenger to Travis demanding surrender, or else everyone in the compound would be killed. According to the legend, Travis called the Alamo defenders together, explained that defeat was almost certain, and read the letter of surrender; Travis then (having chosen to die instead of surrender) reportedly pulled his battle sword, used it to draw a line in the ground of the Alamo, and asked for volunteers to cross over the line and join him, understanding their decision would be irreversible. The legend states that all but one of the defenders (including
Jim Bowie and
Davy Crockett) joined Travis on his side of the line; Tapley Holland would be the first over the line.
Moses Rose was the only defender choosing to leave the compound. Travis then responded to Santa Anna's letter with cannon fire, whereupon Santa Anna replied by playing
El Degüello.
Recent uses
In 1990, US president
George H. W. Bush described the initiation of the
Gulf War as drawing "a line in the sand".
In 2003, British rock band
Motörhead released a song named "Evolution (Line in the Sand)", which was used as entrance music by
WWE wrestling stable
Evolution.
Tipping point (sociology) – point in time when a group rapidly and dramatically changes its behaviourPages displaying wikidata descriptions as a fallback