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Glite Dictionary
⏳ Waiting turn 🏅 Next in order 🚶 In a queue
in line

in line

261 1.1
Standing one behind another waiting to get something
  • idiom
translation icon : hacer cola
  • We stood in line for more than an hour to get into the amusement park.
  • wait in line
  • stand in line
  • people waiting in line

Whose line would you Would you wait in line to meet Madonna?

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Examples

  • You know, the damnedest thing happened when I was waiting in line at the Chinese restaurant.

    Here (2024)

  • You're going to have to wait in line.

    Dangerous Curves (1988)

  • There was not a person in line before me to vote.

  • OK, well, actually there were six people in line, so we'll just talk about this.

  • And while we're in line, we're in this, like, long line to sign up.

  • We're waiting in line for a hot minute, but just look at this.

  • We waited in line such a long time.

  • People waited in line the night before.

    Adam Savage’s Tested

  • Maybe I'm next in line.

    Find Me Guilty (2006)

  • But this nice lady in line with me offered to let me borrow the cash.

    Fiction book (1991)

Synonyms

to stand in line
vsin line
  • US
76 1.7

To wait in a line of people for your turn

is about being positioned with others while expecting your chance
to line up for
vsin line
26 2.1

To wait in a line to get something

is more about holding a place while expecting a due chance
to queue
vsin line
  • UK
20 3.4

To form or join a line while waiting

is the general state of being in place while expecting a due opportunity
to wait your turn
vsin line
17 2.0

Be patient and let others go before you until it is your turn

is about being physically positioned with others while expecting a due opportunity
to queue up
vsin line
  • UK
3 3.1

To wait in a line to buy something or enter a place

is about expecting a forthcoming chance rather than forming together

How Near

in line
261 1.1

Surface Forms

in line positive

Morphology

in + line

The meaning 'waiting one after another in a queue' is directly and transparently derived from combining 'in' (position within) with 'line' (a queue or straight formation). This simple spatial/compositional pattern is common in English and across languages, so a B1 learner who knows both words can readily infer the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

The adjective in line comes from the simple picture of people standing in a line at a shop or office. Being 'in line' means you are waiting your turn to be served. So in line means 'waiting' or standing in a queue.