on line

on line

Waiting in a line of people. Primarily heard in New York City. This shouldn't take much longer—Mom's on line to pay right now. People who wanted to get one of the early smartphones would be on line for hours, if not days!
See also: line, on

online

1. Connected to the internet or a local network, as on a computer, smartphone, video game console, etc. You've been online for far too long today. Put your shoes on and go play outside. Once the new server is online, the website should be able to load about three times faster.
2. Describing any activity done over the Internet. Online dating is the new normal when it comes to meeting people. It's interesting to see how online communication really adds to our lexicon.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

on line

1. See in line, def. 2.
2. Actively linked to or operating a computer, as in They haven't got the printer on line yet, or Mark's been on line all morning. [Late 1900s] Also see go on, def. 9.
See also: line, on
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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