stuck in line

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "stuck in line" is correct and usable in written English.
It is often used to refer to a situation in which someone is waiting in a queue or line, usually for a long period of time. For example, "I was stuck in line for more than an hour at the store today."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

19 human-written examples

Sunday night, the average viewer might have gotten stuck in line for a while.

The New York Times - Tech

- If you are stuck in line, try calling the airline reservations number from your cellphone.

The New York Times

Motorists found themselves stuck in line for half an hour to clear immigration, with only two booths open for cars.

The New York Times - Travel

A passenger stuck in line can fantasize these tiny toiletry swords being beat into plowshares for post-terrorist Afghanistan.

The New York Times

At the Otay Mesa crossing in San Diego, one of the border's busiest for cargo, 150 commercial trucks were stuck in line Monday, officials said.

The Washington Post

The Taylor app is a fascinating time-killer when you're stuck in line somewhere or waiting for your plane or, considering Taylor Swift's audience, for your mom to pick you up.

The New York Times - Tech

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

41 human-written examples

The streets were empty, save for demonstrators and people stuck in long lines at gas stations.

The New Yorker

The editors wanted her to spin her article as an attack on female war correspondents who leave their children behind and therefore stuck in lines such as "I strongly disagree with Janine di Giovanni," which Blundy kept deleting.

The Guardian - Opinion

"If we can take advantage of customers when they want to shop and they're aggravated by a physical experience, it's a real win-win," said Ben Fischman, chief executive of Rue La La, a subscriber-based online merchant that will offer mobile deals on both Thursday and Friday at times that it expects people will be stuck in lines.

The New York Times

More often than not, I was stuck in line-ups where the people before and after me would play this really ridiculous brostep music.

Vice

However he was trying to reassure those with concerns that the objective of the military action was regime change - to stick in line with the US military and to avoid undermining support at the UN, in the Arab world and, indeed, in Libya itself.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a frustrating waiting experience, use "stuck in line" to effectively communicate the feeling of being delayed and unable to progress.

Common error

Avoid using "stuck in line" when you simply mean 'waiting'. "Stuck" implies a sense of frustration or being unable to move forward, so it's not suitable for all waiting situations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "stuck in line" functions primarily as a descriptive phrase. Ludwig AI confirms its common usage in describing the state of being delayed or unable to progress while waiting in a queue. Examples show it modifies nouns or pronouns referring to people or vehicles.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Wiki

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Academia

4%

Reference

3%

Science

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "stuck in line" is a very common phrase used to describe the experience of waiting, often with frustration, in a queue. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and frequent usage across diverse contexts, primarily in News & Media. It functions as a descriptive phrase, conveying a sense of delay and inconvenience. While versatile, be mindful of the context to ensure it accurately reflects the situation you're describing. Consider alternatives like ""held up in queue"" or "waiting in a long line" to add variety or nuance to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

waiting in a long line

This alternative emphasizes the length of the queue using "long line".

held up in queue

This alternative uses "held up" instead of "stuck" and "queue" instead of "line", providing a slightly more formal tone.

caught in a queue

Uses "caught" to mean unexpectedly "stuck".

delayed in the queue

This uses "delayed" which emphasizes the time aspect of being "stuck", and queue instead of line.

held back in line

This alternative describes being stopped from moving forward.

immobilized in line

This alternative emphasizes the lack of movement using "immobilized" instead of "stuck".

held up waiting

This option focus on the action of waiting, and being "held up".

delayed while waiting

This option focus on the reason (delay) and the action (waiting) so is more descriptive.

detained in line

This alternative uses "detained", implying a slightly more restrictive or formal situation.

stranded in the queue

This alternative uses "stranded" to suggest a sense of helplessness and being stuck.

FAQs

How can I use "stuck in line" in a sentence?

You can use "stuck in line" to describe a situation where you are waiting in a queue and unable to move forward, for example: "I was "stuck in line" at the grocery store for 30 minutes."

What are some alternatives to saying "stuck in line"?

Alternatives include "waiting in a queue", "held up in queue", or "delayed in the queue", depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "stuck on line" instead of "stuck in line"?

While "stuck on line" might be understood in some contexts, ""stuck in line"" is the more common and grammatically correct phrasing when referring to physically waiting in a queue.

What does it mean to be "stuck in line"?

Being ""stuck in line"" means you are waiting in a queue or line of people or things, and you are experiencing a delay or inability to move forward at a desired pace.