Cue
Origin 1
From the letter Q, abbreviation of Latin quando (“whenâ€), marked on actor's play copy where they were to begin.
Full definition of cue
Noun
cue
(plural cues)- An action or event that is a signal for somebody to do something.
- 2011, November 3, Chris Bevan, Rubin Kazan 1 - 0 Tottenham, This time Cudicini was left helpless when Natcho stepped up to expertly curl the ball into the top corner.
That was the cue for further pressure from the Russian side and it took further Cudicini saves to keep the score down. - The last words of a play actor's speech, serving as an intimation for the next actor to speak; any word or words which serve to remind an actor to speak or to do something; a catchword.
- ShakespeareWhen my cue comes, call me, and I will answer.
- A hint or intimation.
- Jonathan SwiftGive them servants their cue to attend in two lines as he leaves the house.
- (obsolete) Humour; temper of mind.
- (obsolete, UK, universities) A small portion of bread or beer; the quantity bought with a farthing or half farthing and noted with a q (for Latin quadrans farthing) in the buttery books.
- Hast thou ... suck'd Philosophy, ate cues, drank cees?
Derived terms
Verb
- To give someone a cue signal.Cue the cameraman, and action!
- 2012, May 27, Nathan Rabin, TV: Review: THE SIMPSONS (CLASSIC): “New Kid On The Block†(season 4, episode 8; originally aired 11/12/1992), The episode also opens with an inspired bit of business for Homer, who blithely refuses to acquiesce to an elderly neighbor’s utterly reasonable request that he help make the process of selling her house easier by wearing pants when he gallivants about in front of windows, throw out his impressive collection of rotting Jack-O-Lanterns from previous Halloweens and take out his garbage, as it’s attracting wildlife (cue moose and Northern Exposure theme song).
Origin 2
Variant of queue