I grew up in New York and I say "I am standing on line". Meaning I'm next or lined up behind people. For some reason this drives Nate crazy. He says it is "waiting in line". I understand that in line makes more sense. How did NYers come up with on line ??
What's the story behind how you learned that it drove Nate crazy?
Poor guy. Now we're all going to start using "on line" whenever we get the chance with him. ;D
What if your in a wheelchair? What then?
Quote from: Ducaholic on November 11, 2009, 02:43:29 PM
What if your in a wheelchair? What then?
You're still
in a make the beast with two backsing line. ;D
we dont say waiting in line cause we dont want to make the beast with two backsing wiat. well just stand. ;D
you could always just queue up.
The "on a line" was always wicked confusing to me too.
McD TV ad (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uFbxpWFs2jA#normal)
Seems weird to me, you're standing in a line of people not on a line on the floor or something
Queued up. ;)
Yeah, on line is wrong. It just doesn't work parsed out other ways, either.
"I lined them up, all on a row."
"I have a Japanese online four"
no idea who started it.. lol
what if there'e was originally a line drawn on the ground?
Then you'd be standing online.
Quote from: trouble on November 11, 2009, 05:51:38 PM
what if there'e was originally a line drawn on the ground?
Then you'd be standing online.
wrong again dear...
you'd be standing on a line...in line. ;D
Quote from: trouble on November 11, 2009, 05:51:38 PM
what if there'e was originally a line drawn on the ground?
Then you'd be standing online.
As in "toe the line". And why isn't that "Toes
on the line." That would make more sense considering what I believe to be the origin (boxing).
since when are New Yorkers expected to make sense?
I thought toes on a line came from the military?
If there is an actual physical line on the floor, and you are on it, then you are on line. If you are in a line of people, you are in line. If you are in a line of people, and also standing on a physical line on the floor, then you are both in and on line. If there is a group of people, standing in a line, and you are standing on top of the group of people standing in line, then you are standing on line.
I was curious - Origin of toe the line. Warning, if you like words this site will devour your time.
http://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-toe2.htm (http://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-toe2.htm)
Also, if this goes on much longer, I am going to start saying that I took a ride in my bike. Just warning everyone. The preposition usage is about to get ugly...
(http://www.irregularwebcomic.net/comics/irreg2475.jpg)
Quote from: il d00d on November 11, 2009, 07:03:27 PM
I was curious - Origin of toe the line. Warning, if you like words this site will devour your time.
http://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-toe2.htm (http://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-toe2.htm)
Also, if this goes on much longer, I am going to start saying that I took a ride in my bike. Just warning everyone. The preposition usage is about to get ugly...
Partial thread jack but here's Wiki's version of "toe the line": http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toe_the_line (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toe_the_line)
Quote from: Stella on November 11, 2009, 07:10:00 PM
Partial thread jack but here's Wiki's version of "toe the line": http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toe_the_line (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toe_the_line)
Well... Wikipedia is written and edited by anonymous contributors. The guy who runs world wide words writes for the OED (http://www.worldwidewords.org/personal.htm). Just sayin' ;D [beer]
<quietly backs out of this thread without clicking any links>
Wooo, coulda learned something there if I wasn't careful.
Quote from: kopfjäger on November 11, 2009, 07:00:54 PM
If there is an actual physical line on the floor, and you are on it, then you are on line. If you are in a line of people, you are in line. If you are in a line of people, and also standing on a physical line on the floor, then you are both in and on line. If there is a group of people, standing in a line, and you are standing on top of the group of people standing in line, then you are standing on line.
I'll guarantee you he's not from NY. ;D
Quote from: kopfjäger on November 11, 2009, 07:00:54 PM
If there is an actual physical line on the floor, and you are on it, then you are on line. If you are in a line of people, you are in line. If you are in a line of people, and also standing on a physical line on the floor, then you are both in and on line. If there is a group of people, standing in a line, and you are standing on top of the group of people standing in line, then you are standing on line.
What if you are surfing the interwebs during all this?
Quote from: kopfjäger on November 11, 2009, 07:00:54 PM
If there is an actual physical line on the floor, and you are on it, then you are on line. If you are in a line of people, you are in line. If you are in a line of people, and also standing on a physical line on the floor, then you are both in and on line. If there is a group of people, standing in a line, and you are standing on top of the group of people standing in line, then you are standing on line.
if there is a physical line on the ground then you are on
a line
if you are standing on top of the people who are in line you are still on
a line
growing up down south people would always say "on the car" as in "i was riding on the car..."
that annoyed the shit out of me because you ride
inside of a car, unless you are doing what is now referred to as "ghost riding"
and that's make the beast with two backsing retarded too.
My ex-NY'er wife stills says that and other things like:
"close the light" (in the other 49 states that means turn off the light) [laugh]
damn, drawing a blank on the other ones... >:(
Down here in Albuquerque people don't "get gas" or fill up the car" instead they "put gas".... as in. "I'll be about 10 minutes late I have to put gas." ??? Apparently they are unaware that you need a noun to build a complete sentence.
I like the English 'in the queue' too
If you dont like lines move to italy...they dont believe in them.
everybody just crowds to the front 8)
Quote from: hypurone on November 12, 2009, 04:29:43 AM
My ex-NY'er wife stills says that and other things like:
"close the light" (in the other 49 states that means turn off the light) [laugh]
damn, drawing a blank on the other ones... >:(
I think it's a relic from the original immigrants that were learning English. In many other languages lights are opened and closed, not turned on and off. My Filipino ex-gf would always say open/close the light because that's the way it is said in Tagalog.
Perhaps this "on a line" thing is a similar translation relic.
I've heard that expression before, but I'm also from the Midwest. I get the same reaction at times when I say "I'm running the sweeper" rather than "I'm running the vacuum"
Quote from: chronic looker on November 11, 2009, 02:35:00 PM
I grew up in New York and I say "I am standing on line". Meaning I'm next or lined up behind people. For some reason this drives Nate crazy. He says it is "waiting in line". I understand that in line makes more sense. How did NYers come up with on line ??
You both Fail. ;)
It's "Standing in line"
I was born and raised in Queens.
BC.
Quote from: Bladecutter on November 12, 2009, 08:22:44 AM
You both Fail. ;)
It's "Standing in line"
I was born and raised in Queens.
BC.
Don't blame us for your short-comings [cheeky]
J/K
Damn it, I can't believe I'm about to do this.....
Nate's right....
I didn't say that Nate was wrong. He is right. I just wanted to know why some NYer's say that phrase.
I was born and lived in LI for 28 years. So, now I think that maybe Nyer's really are trend setters. Speaking of being online years before the interwebz.
Quote from: KnightofNi on November 12, 2009, 04:10:09 AM
if there is a physical line on the ground then you are on a line
if you are standing on top of the people who are in line you are still on a line
growing up down south people would always say "on the car" as in "i was riding on the car..."
that annoyed the shit out of me because you ride inside of a car, unless you are doing what is now referred to as "ghost riding"
and that's make the beast with two backsing retarded too.
Actually riding on the car is car surfing. Ghost riding is when you get out of the moving car and run alongside it.
And having no idea what slang means anymore just means you're make the beast with two backsing old. :-*
Quote from: il d00d on November 11, 2009, 07:06:28 PM
(http://www.irregularwebcomic.net/comics/irreg2475.jpg)
Travis? Is that you? Someone turned you into a toy!! [laugh] [laugh] [laugh]
Quote from: MrIncredible on November 12, 2009, 03:27:05 PM
Actually riding on the car is car surfing. Ghost riding is when you get out of the moving car and run alongside it.
And having no idea what slang means anymore just means you're make the beast with two backsing old. :-*
you win this round kazahk...
Quote from: DuCaTiNi on November 12, 2009, 03:52:14 PM
Travis? Is that you? Someone turned you into a toy!! [laugh] [laugh] [laugh]
can't be me. dude is wearing a suit
Quote from: MrIncredible on November 12, 2009, 03:27:05 PMAnd having no idea what slang means anymore just means you're make the beast with two backsing old. :-*
:'(
if a line is on a treadmill is it waiting?
Quote from: He Man on November 12, 2009, 10:19:55 PM
if a line is on a treadmill is it waiting?
yes, it's waiting to get off the treadmill and take flight.