Jumping the line

Question

Two friends are in line for the bathroom in a bar when a guy cuts in front of them.

Friend: Excuse me. You're jumping the line.

Guy: So? Mind your own business, okay?

1) Would the bold-face part be completely natural here? Is 'line' more natural than queue?

2) Is 'cuts in front of them' natural as well? Is it understood that it means the guy jumped the line?

Thanks.

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

anonymous1) Would the bold-face part be completely natural here? Is 'line' more natural than queue?

Americans use "line". You hear "queue" more and more, but not in the men's toilet line in a bar.

anonymous2) Is 'cuts in front of them' natural as well? Is it understood that it means the guy jumped the line?

"Cuts in front of them" is how I would put it. As for "jump the line", there are several ways people say that, and I suspect it's regional. I say "cut in line". In your setting, I would expect a harsher condemnation and an even harsher retort, maybe "the line ends back there", or "get to the back of the line" followed by "make me". Actually, in the less genteel establishments, protocol pretty much forces you to grab the guy and throw him out of the line without saying anything, or wimp out and do nothing at all. Everybody knows you don't cut in line, and it means he wants to have a fistfight.

Jumping the line

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