cue
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(right) on cue
At exactly the most (or least) opportune moment, as if on purpose. We had just been talking about the awful new company initiative when, on cue, the CEO walked into the room. I was complaining to my wife that none of my friends had asked how our recent move when, when one of them sent me a text message about it right on cue.
cue in
1. To signal one to begin to do something. A noun or pronoun can be used between "cue" and "in." And then I'll cue in the sopranos for the harmony. Once the director cued me in, I stepped on stage.
2. To give one information that they have missed. A noun or pronoun can be used between "cue" and "in." Don't worry, I was here from the beginning so I'll cue you in on what we talked about.
See also: cue
cue up
1. To prepare something for viewing or listening. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "cue" and "up." You cue up the video, I'll get the popcorn.
2. To assemble into a line, as of people who are waiting for something. A variant spelling of "queue up." I can't believe people are cued up already—the store doesn't open for another 12 hours!
jump the queue
To go ahead of someone or multiple people who have been waiting before one. Primarily heard in UK, Australia. I wanted to shout at the man for jumping the queue, but I was too embarrassed about making a scene. There has been public outrage after it came to light that some people had been jumping the queue for surgery appointments because they had a friend or relative working at the hospital.
take a/(one's) cue from (someone or something)
To model one's actions based on the example or influence of someone or something else. The director definitely took a cue from his favorite film when framing that scene. Take a cue from your kids and learn how to enjoy the little things.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2015 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
cue someone in
1. Lit. to give someone a cue; to indicate to someone that the time has come. Now, cue the orchestra director in. All right, cue in the announcer.
2. Fig. to tell someone what is going on. (Almost the same as clue someone in (on something).) I want to know what's going on. Cue me in. Cue in the general about the troop movement.
See also: cue
take one's cue from someone
to use someone else's behavior or reactions as a guide to one's own. (From the theatrical cue as a signal to speak, etc.) If you don't know which spoons to use at the dinner, just take your cue from John. The other children took their cue from Tommy and ignored the new boy.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
cue in
Give information or instructions, for example, She said she'd cue us in on their summer plans. This verbal use of the noun cue in the sense of "guiding suggestion" dates from the 1920s.
See also: cue
take one's cue from
Follow the lead of another, as in I'm not sure what to bring, so I'll take my cue from you. This expression, first recorded in 1622, alludes to the cue giving an actor a signal to speak.
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.
take your cue from someone
COMMON If you take your cue from someone, you behave in the same way as them. Taking his cue from his companion, he apologized for his earlier display of temper. Everybody working for you will take their cue from you.
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012
on cue
at the correct moment.take your cue from
follow the example or advice of.Cue in both of these idioms is used in the theatrical sense of ‘the word or words that signal when another actor should speak or perform a particular action’.
jump the queue
1 push into a queue of people in order to be served or dealt with before your turn. 2 take unfair precedence over others.The US version of this expression is jump in line .
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
(right) on ˈcue
just at the appropriate moment: The bell sounded for the beginning of the lesson, and, right on cue, the teacher walked in.take your ˈcue from somebody
be influenced in your actions by what somebody else has done: In designing the car, we took our cue from other designers who aimed to combine low cost with low petrol consumption.jump the ˈqueue
(British English) (American English jump the ˈline, cut in ˈline) go to the front of a line of people without waiting for your turn: I get very angry with people who jump the queue. ▶ ˈqueue-jumping (British English) (American English ˈline-jumping less frequent) noun: This practice encourages queue-jumping for medical services.Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
cue in
v.
1. To give a signal to someone at a specified time, especially a signal to begin: The conductor cued in each section of the choir one by one. Cue me in when it's time to say my lines.
2. To give information or instructions to someone, such as a latecomer: I cued in my coworker about the items that we discussed at the beginning of the meeting. She cued me in to what happened in the first five minutes of the movie.
See also: cue
cue up
v.
1. To position an audio or video recording in readiness for playing: The DJ cued up the next record on the turntable as the song came to an end. I wanted to show scenes from the film during my presentation, so I cued them up ahead of time.
2. To form or get into a waiting line; queue up: The customers cued up for tickets long before the box office was open.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs. Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.