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You can use the two phrases together, too. “Cue the lights” typically refers to the lights in a theater. Here’s a look at other expressions that have a connection to “cue the music.” If spoken aloud, the phrase “queue the music” will likely cause a lot of confusion, as it sounds exactly like “cue the music.” Related Phrases The phrase “queue the music” isn’t commonly used. To add music to the playlist so you can hear it later, you can tell the DJ to queue the song you’re interested in. Suppose you’re at a party where the music is kept on a playlist. For example, if you were to arrange all of your vinyl records alphabetically, you could accurately say that you “queued your music.”Īnother way you can use “queue the music” is if you’re talking about a song list. If you use the phrase “queue the music,” you’re technically talking about organizing music in some way.
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The phrase “queue the music” isn’t an established saying like “cue the music.” However, “queue the music” is still grammatically correct. Typically, it’s used with the word “up.” “Everybody will need to queue up on the sidewalk before the store will open.” Can You “Queue the Music”? It’s a traditional style worn by Chinese men as well as a modern variation of the French Braid.Īs a verb, “queue” has one definition. “The printer queue lists three pending documents” or “My Spotify queue is filled with Britney Spears.”įinally, a “queue” can also refer to a long braid worn down the back of the neck. It can also mean a set of items or instructions processed in a designated order, such as a playlist or a computer program. “In order to buy tickets, everybody was instructed to form a queue at the ticket window.” (Note: Using the word in this way is far more prevalent in England than in the US.) Like “cue,” the word “queue” is also a noun and a verb. The streaming service refers to your playlist of shows and movies as the “Netflix Queue.” “Queue” as a Noun and a Verb One place you’ve likely seen the word “queue” in the US is when logging into Netflix. For instance, “Everyone must form an orderly queue to board the subway.” In England, it commonly refers to a line of people. The word “queue” means to form either a line or a list. Many people mistakenly believe the phrase “cue the music” is written as “queue the music.” Even though the words look quite different, they’re homophones, which means they sound identical when spoken aloud.
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Over time, the word “quando” was possibly shortened to just “Q,” and the word “cue” is simply how people spelled out the letter. The word “cue” is possibly derived from the Latin word “quando,” which means “when.” The word “quando” was common in early theater, used to describe when an actor should start speaking. Scholars believe the word originated in the 1550s. What is the Origin of the Word “Cue”?Īs with many English words, the origins of the word “cue” aren’t fully understood. “As we cut to the shot of the airplane, we’ll need to cue the sound effects.”īoth as a noun and verb, the word indicates that something is starting.
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Recorded music played through a sound systemĪ “cue” is a signal meant to start an action.The expression refers to any type of music, such as: “Cue the music” means that music should start playing. The following guide defines the phrase, provides examples of its use, and explains why it’s often confused with the words “queue the music.” The Meaning of “Cue the Music” Many people don’t know what the phrase means and end up using it incorrectly, if they use it at all.ĭon’t worry if you’re not familiar with the phrase “cue the music” because help is available.
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Have you ever heard someone use the phrase “cue the music”? It’s a popular expression, one frequently used in the worlds of music and theater.
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