Queue vs. Cue

On a message board I frequent, somebody made a post asking for help designing a new computer they wanted to build. One of the first replies was simply "queue Johnny" as Johnny is somebody who frequently answers these types of questions.

I am convinced that he should have said "cue Johnny" and I gave him definitions of both words to prove this, but he insists that he meant to use "queue" and that it is correct. I am hoping somebody here could shed more light on the matter.

This is from dictionary.com:

queue
n.
A line of waiting people or vehicles.


Common usage has been known to take nouns and turn them into verbs.

When we need to look up information online, we now often say we'll "google it."

We also say "I'll phone you" when we tell someone we'll call them using a telephone or a cellphone.

Johnny is someone who receives a lot of questions and needs some time to answer all of them; so a line starts forming -- a line of questions and requests for help.

The word "queue" in his case may have meant: If you want Johnny to answer your question, get in line. He is very busy and has a lot of messages to respond to.

Odd usage, though. Wouldn't it have been easier to just say "ask Johnny" or "message Johnny"?

I've grown to understand that I.T. people have their own terminology when they talk shop.

Hope that helps,

Arvin

I suppose it would have been. As in "wait in line for Johnny?"

Queue Johnny = Repost your help request in Johnny's queue.

We may never know for certain.