It's TOE the line. Toe. As in come right up to the line with your toes. You're not hauling it.

And it's change TACK. It's a metaphor from directional change in sailing. It's not change tact, as in suddenly becoming a rude bastard.

The people whining about how terrible our government's response has been are all about the tow and the tact and I don't know why.