Answer this?

[Kopfjäger]

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.

[il d00d]

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

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...

[il d00d]

[Stella]

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

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

[il d00d]

Partial thread jack but here's Wiki's version of "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.  Just sayin'   

[Scottish]

<quietly backs out of this thread without clicking any links>




Wooo, coulda learned something there if I wasn't careful.

[ducpainter]

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.

[Oldfisti]

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?

[KnightofNi]

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.

[hypurone]

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) 

damn, drawing a blank on the other ones...   

[Scottish]

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.

[JEFF_H]

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 

[erkishhorde]

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)  

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.

[Monster Dave]

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"

[Bladecutter]

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.