Meaning
In New York regional usage, people can say they are waiting “on line” rather than “in line” when standing in a queue.
How it is used
The construction describes waiting in a queue. Many other English speakers prefer in line, while New York speakers may naturally use on line; both forms are understandable.
Examples
- “We waited on line for bagels before work.”
- “There were twenty people on line outside the theater.”
- “I’m on line at the coffee cart right now.”
Pronunciation
· on line
Tone and register
Neutral and everyday. The regional difference is grammatical or idiomatic rather than slangy.
Visitor guidance
Visitors only need to recognize the construction. There is no reason to correct a New Yorker who says on line, and using in line will also be understood.
Cultural context
This small preposition difference is a useful reminder that local speech is not limited to colorful vocabulary. Merriam-Webster describes on line as largely local to the New York City region, while Gothamist documents the construction as part of everyday New York usage.
Places represented
Open the reviewed place guide for each regional sense carried by this canonical entry.
Comparisons featuring this term
Open reviewed place comparisons that explicitly use this canonical term in their editorial comparison set.