<P> Biblical link to 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 . </P> <P> 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: </P> <P> 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 ."' </P> <P> 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 . </P>

Where does the saying drawing a line in the sand come from