phrase
General Slang
waiting on line
WAY-ting on LYNE · phrase · informal
Standing in a queue (New Yorkers say 'on,' not 'in')
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Definitions
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The distinctively New York way to say you're in a queue — 'on line' rather than 'in line.'
“I've been waiting on line at the DMV for an hour.”
by community
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waiting on line In A Sentence
I've been waiting on line at the DMV for an hour.
Origin & Usage
NYC regional grammar; New York uniquely uses 'on line' where the rest of the U.S. says 'in line.'
Variants
on line
People Also Ask
What does 'waiting on line' mean?
It's the New York way to say you're standing in a queue — 'on line' rather than 'in line.'
Why do New Yorkers say 'on line'?
It's a distinctive feature of NYC regional grammar; New York uniquely uses 'on line' where the rest of the U.S. says 'in line.'
Is 'on line' the same as being 'online'?
No — in this NYC usage it means physically standing in a queue, not being on the internet.
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