There are several ideas about the origin of this phrase. One comes from the arguments that happen in the British House of Commons. To deter members of opposing parties from attacking each other, two parallel red lines are marked, two sword-lengths apart, on the floor of the house. MPs are expected to stay behind these lines when a speech is in progress. Members, of course, no longer carry swords, but the tradition remains. Read more about it and the other theories here.
Nowadays the phrase is used to communicate an expectation to conform to a standard.
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