Toe the line 1813 publication had used the term "toe the mark" which had the same meaning as "toe the line's" modern usage, where the author wrote "He began to think it was high time to toe the mark." An 1828 publication also used "toe the plank" with a similar meaning. Over the years the term has been attributed to sports, including toeing the starting line in track events and toeing a center line in boxing, where boxers were instructed to line up on either side of to start a match. However, the earlier boxing term was "toeing the scratch", referring to a
Baby, What a Big Surprise Baby, What a Big Surprise "Baby, What a Big Surprise" is a power ballad written by Peter Cetera for the group Chicago and recorded for their album "Chicago XI" (1977), with Cetera singing lead vocals. The first single released from that album, it reached number 4 on the US "Billboard" Hot 100 chart. Carl Wilson of The Beach Boys provided additional backing vocals on the recording while saxophonist Walt Parazaider plays flute on the distinctive flute introduction and trumpeter Lee Loughnane plays a piccolo trumpet. Although "Chicago XI" yielded two more minor singles, "Baby, What a Big Surprise" was Chicago's