line up

arrange people or things in a line

B1

What does "line sb/sth up" mean?

To line up means to form a row or to put people or things into a row. You can use it when people arrange themselves into a line — for example, before entering a classroom or boarding a bus. You can also use it when someone else arranges people or objects into a neat row, like a coach lining up players on the field or a waiter lining up glasses on a tray. The key idea is always a clear, ordered, linear arrangement — whether the things in the line are people, chairs, bottles, or cars. This phrasal verb works both ways: people can line up on their own, or someone can line them up.

Examples

How to use it

subject + line up (intransitive)

Used when people or things form a line by themselves, with no object needed.

The students lined up quietly outside the gym.

line + object + up

Used when someone puts people or things into a line; shorter objects commonly go between 'line' and 'up'.

The coach lined the players up along the side of the pitch.

line + pronoun + up

When the object is a pronoun, it must go between 'line' and 'up' — this is not optional.

The guard told the visitors to line up, then lined them up himself.

be lined up (passive)

Used to describe the result of being arranged in a row, often as a descriptive state.

The dominoes were lined up in a long row across the table.

line up + adverb/prepositional phrase

Used to specify how or where the line forms, either transitively or intransitively.

Shoppers lined up neatly outside the store before it opened.

Common Collocations

line up studentsline up suspectsline up speakersline up chairsline up dealsline up interviews

Common Mistakes

Pronoun placement

When the object is a pronoun, you must place it between 'line' and 'up'. Putting it after 'up' sounds unnatural and is incorrect.

✗ The referee lined up them at the start line.
✓ The referee lined them up at the start line.
Confusing 'line up' with 'queue up'

'Queue up' is mainly British English and specifically refers to waiting in a queue. 'Line up' is broader — it covers any kind of linear arrangement, including non-waiting situations like lining up chairs or bottles, and is used in both British and American English.

✗ She queued up the chairs neatly in front of the stage.
✓ She lined up the chairs neatly in front of the stage.
Separating with a very long noun phrase

When the object is a long noun phrase, it sounds more natural to keep 'line up' together rather than inserting the object between 'line' and 'up'.

✗ The teacher lined all the children from three different classrooms up.
✓ The teacher lined up all the children from three different classrooms.

Usage

In everyday use, 'line up' means to form or put people/things into a row. In professional and media contexts, the figurative meaning — to arrange or secure something in advance — is very common: 'We've lined up three candidates for the role.'

Frequently Asked Questions

Can 'line up' describe objects as well as people?

Yes, absolutely. You can use 'line up' for any people or things arranged in a row — bottles on a shelf, cars along a street, chairs in a hall, or dominoes on a table. The only requirement is that you can picture them in an actual line.

Is 'line up' American English? I've heard British people say 'queue up' instead.

'Line up' is used in both American and British English, while 'queue up' is mainly British and specifically means waiting in a queue. 'Line up' is broader — it covers any linear arrangement, not just waiting — so it works in both varieties and in more situations.

Can I use 'line up' in the passive?

Yes, and it sounds very natural. The passive form 'lined up' is often used to describe how people or things have been arranged: 'The suspects were lined up for identification' or 'Taxis were lined up outside the hotel entrance.'

What's the difference between 'line up' and the noun 'lineup'?

'Line up' (two words) is the phrasal verb describing the action of forming or making a row. 'Lineup' or 'line-up' (one word or hyphenated) is a noun used for things like a list of performers at an event or a police identification parade. So you 'line up' the suspects, and the result is a 'lineup'.

Can I use 'line up' as an imperative — like a command?

Yes, this is very common. Teachers, coaches, and authority figures often use it as a direct command: 'Line up!' or 'Everyone line up at the door!' It's a natural and everyday use of the phrasal verb.

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