Living in London

The word "queue" is one of my favorite words (along with "triage"). I just like the way it sounds.


I remember the first time I ever saw the word. I was about 10 years old and was spending the day at Cedar Point Amusement Park. Right outside of the monster of all roller coasters was a sign that said "Form Queue Here." I was impressed. I mean, Cedar Point is in OHIO! Wouldn't "line" been more appropriate that "queue?"


Now that I live in London, I find the word used frequently. At the airport on Thursday the gate agent asked everyone to form a queue and I overheard a fellow passenger say, "we (i.e. the British) invented the word."


In Passport to the Pub, the authors have captured very well the British attitude towards queues:

Many visitors have observed that queuing is almost a national pastime for the British, who will automatically arrange themselves into an orderly line at bus stops, shop counters, ice-cream stalls, lifts, entrances, exits and sometimes in the middle of nowhere for no apparent reason.

Well said.


-HrH