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line up

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line someone or something up

 

1. Lit. to put people or things in line. Line everyone up and march them onstage. Line up the kids, please. Please line these books up. Hey, you guys! Line yourselves up!

2. Fig. to schedule someone or something [for something]. Please line somebody up for the entertainment. We will try to line up a magician and a clown for the party. They lined up a chorus for the last act.

See also: line, up

line someone or something up (in something)

to put people or things into some kind of formation, such as a row, column, ranks, etc. The teacher lined the children up in two rows. Please line up the children in a row.

See also: line, up

line someone up

(for something) Fig. to schedule someone for something; to arrange for someone to do or be something. I lined gardeners up for the summer work on the gardens. I lined up four of my best friends to serve as ushers at my wedding.

See also: line, up

line someone up

(with someone) Go to fix someone up (with someone).

See also: line, up

line up

to form a line; to get into a line. All right, everyone, line up!

See also: line, up

line up something

also line something up

to organize or arrange for something to be done Lee had already lined up a good lawyer to handle his case. I'll try to line something up for Saturday - maybe we could go to the museum.

Etymology: based on the literal meaning of line up (to form a line)

See also: line, up

line up

1. Arrange in or form a line, as in Betty lined up the books on the shelf, or The children lined up for lunch. [Late 1800s]

2. Organize, make ready, make the arrangements for, as in They lined up considerable support for the bill, or Nancy was supposed to line up a hall for the concert. [c. 1900]

See also: line, up

line up

v.

1. To form a line: The students lined up at the front of the classroom. People are lining up to get tickets to the game.

2. To arrange some people or things in a line: The police lined the suspects up against the wall. We lined up some chairs in front of the stage. Customers were lined up waiting for the stores to open.

3. To organize something or someone for an event or activity; schedule something or someone: I've lined two interviews up for next week. The organizers lined up some great speakers for the rally. The senator is lining up support for the bill.

4. To straighten something, or put it in the correct position in relation to some other thing: I lined the text up with the edge of the page. The sniper lined up the rifle and fired two shots at the middle of the target. We lined up the holes and put the bolt through.

5. To be straight or in the correct position in relation to some other thing: The holes don't line up—I can't get the bolt in. Does this painting line up with the ceiling?

6. In American football, to take one's position in a formation before a snap or kickoff: The players lined up at the scrimmage line.

See also: line, up