leading the queue

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "leading the queue" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to someone who is at the front of a line or waiting for something, often in a context where order or priority is important. Example: "She was leading the queue at the concert, ensuring that her friends were right behind her."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

But if it's the one currently leading the Labour Party, you'll have to join the queue.

Independent

Jimmy Choo could soon be strutting its stuff in the City with the luxury shoe brand leading a queue of companies revving up plans to float in London now the economic uncertainty caused by the Scottish referendum is over.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

New Broadway has been closed in both directions, leading to queues in the surrounding area.

BBC

In addition, quite often the network is not partitioned but bottlenecks are formed due to the topology, leading to queueing delays.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

DMZ's first anniversary event (at the Mass venue, a converted church) saw fans attending from places as far away as Sweden, the United States, and Australia, leading to a queue of 600 people at the event.

Wikipedia

Nowhere on earth are our sins so freely exhibited as at the buffet table, and in the queue leading up to it.

The Guardian - Travel

Concept art shows shipping containers, flaming 55-gallon drums and spiked logs forming the queue leading to the entrance of the building.

Los Angeles Times

Only this time, instead of partial sets, fleshed out with camera work and green screen, they got to build real streets, actual shops and taverns, even, in the queue leading to the Forbidden Journey, the Gryffindor common room.

Los Angeles Times

Spain says its increased checks at the border, leading to long queues, are in response to the problem of smuggling.

BBC

An aggressive MCS with high block error rates may lead to high packet error rates (PERs) which in turn throttles back the TCP sources as discussed above, potentially leading to a queue with a high service rate but which is occasionally empty.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

Harry Styles's sister, Alesha Dixon, Jordan from Rizzle Kicks, some people from Made in Chelsea and Brian McFadden are leading a huge queue, by a gigantic cake covered in a duck, a chick, a monkey and coffee cups, waiting for a picture with a middle-aged man.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "leading the queue" when you want to emphasize the act of directing or being at the very front of a line, suggesting active guidance or precedence rather than simply being 'in front'.

Common error

Avoid using "leading the queue" when simply describing someone's position. If there's no implication of guiding or actively being first, "at the front of the queue" is more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "leading the queue" functions as a verb phrase acting as a gerund, describing an action being performed by someone or something. It emphasizes the act of being at the forefront and potentially guiding or influencing the line.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

33%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "leading the queue" is grammatically correct and functions as a verb phrase/gerund describing the act of being at the forefront of a line, possibly guiding or influencing it. While considered rare, it is versatile enough for use in neutral contexts like news reports or general discussions. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical validity. Alternative phrases such as "heading the queue" or "at the head of the line" can be used for variety, depending on the nuances you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

heading the queue

A more concise synonym for "leading the queue".

at the head of the line

Replaces "leading" with a more static positional description.

first in the queue

Emphasizes the position of being first, rather than the action of leading.

at the front of the queue

Similar to "at the head of the line", focusing on the position at the front.

being the first in the queue

Emphasizes the state of being ahead of everyone else in line.

spearheading the queue

Adds a sense of initiative and drive to the action of leading.

fronting the queue

Emphasizes the act of being positioned at the front.

pioneering the queue

Suggests innovation or being the first to experience the queue.

guiding the queue

Implies directing or showing the way within the queue.

managing the queue

Shifts focus to the act of overseeing or controlling the queue.

FAQs

What does "leading the queue" mean?

The phrase "leading the queue" means to be at the very front of a line of people, often implying that the person is also guiding or setting the pace for those behind them.

What can I say instead of "leading the queue"?

You can use alternatives like "heading the queue", "at the head of the line", or "first in the queue" depending on the specific context.

How do I use "leading the queue" in a sentence?

Example: "She was leading the queue to get the best seats at the concert."

Is there a difference between "leading the queue" and "in the queue"?

"Leading the queue" implies being at the very front and possibly directing it, whereas "in the queue" simply means being part of the line without necessarily being at the front.