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to cue

to cue

60 3.2
To give a signal that tells someone when to speak or act
  • verb
  • /kjuː/
translation icon : señalar
  • The examiner also used finger counting to cue the child for three different responses.
  • cue students
  • cue the audience
  • cue the reader

I mean, cue the Carly Simon music.

Examples

  • All right, let's cue the montage.

  • So while I do that, let's cue the music.

  • Somebody cue up the power ballad, man.

  • Three, two, one... cue Bridget.

  • The trigger is the thing that cues your mind to do it.

  • Cue inspirational music.

  • When the time comes, I'll cue you to start speaking.

  • The director will cue the actors when it's their turn to enter the scene.

  • Please cue the video so we can begin the presentation.

Synonyms

to remind
vsto cue
397 2.3

To help someone by saying a forgotten word or line during a performance

uses timing cues rather than providing the missing words
to prompt
vsto cue
16 4.0

Give someone the next words when they forget them

gives a signal rather than supplying the actual words

Compounds

6 3.0

A long thin stick used to hit the small white ball in pool or billiards

5 3.4

A white ball a player hits with a cue to move other balls

1 3.8

A long, thin stick used to hit the white ball in pool and billiards

How Direct

to remind
1.0
to cue
60 3.2
prompt
  • Specialized
4 3.4
to suggest
1.6
to hint
136 2.0

Surface Forms

cue infinitive
cued past
cued past participle
cueing present participle
cues third person singular

Etymology

The verb cue comes from the noun cue meaning a signal, so to cue someone is to give them a prompt or signal that tells them when to speak or act.