I. cue 1 /kjuː/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[ Sense 1-4: Date: 1500-1600 ; Origin: Probably from qu , short form of Latin quando 'when' , used as a direction in actors' copies of plays. ]
[ Sense 5: Date: 1700-1800 ; Language: French ; Origin: queue 'tail, cue' , from Latin cauda ]
1 . an action or event that is a signal for something else to happen
cue for
Our success was the cue for other companies to press ahead with new investment.
sb’s cue to do something
I think that’s my cue to explain why I’m here.
2 . a word, phrase, or action in a play that is a signal for the next person to speak or act:
She stood nervously in the wings waiting for her cue.
miss your cue (=not speak or act when you are supposed to)
3 . (right/as if) on cue happening or done at exactly the right moment:
And then, on cue, the weather changed.
As if on cue, Sam arrived.
4 . take your cue from somebody to use someone else’s actions or behaviour to show you what you should do or how you should behave:
With interest rates, the smaller banks will take their cue from the Federal Bank.
5 .
a long straight wooden stick used for hitting the ball in games such as ↑ billiards and ↑ pool
II. cue 2 BrE AmE verb [transitive]
to give someone a sign that it is the right moment for them to speak or do something, especially during a performance:
The studio manager will cue you when it’s your turn to come on.
cue something ↔ up phrasal verb
to make a ↑ cassette , ↑ video , or ↑ CD be exactly in the position you want it to be in, so that you can play something immediately when you are ready:
The videotape’s cued up and ready to go!