shuffle along the line (here)

English translation: slowly moving up the queue

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
English term or phrase:shuffle along the line
Selected answer:slowly moving up the queue
Entered by: Tony M

07:40 Aug 23, 2014
English language (monolingual) [PRO]
Art/Literary - Idioms / Maxims / Sayings
English term or phrase: shuffle along the line (here)
In
Feels like we've all shuffled along the line

Context:
Says a middle aged son to his brother after their mother died very old after a long illness.

What does it mean? Something like: we've grown older ?
Rita Utt
France
Local time: 23:22
slowly moving up the queue to be the next to die
Explanation:
Yes, I believe you're right: shuffling along the line as people do when queuing for something, in this case, queuing up to die. So as one person dies, you find yourself one place closer to its being your turn.

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Note added at 1 heure (2014-08-23 08:42:33 GMT)
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The queue is, of course, in terms of the generations — once the parents have gone, you are (generally) the next in line to die.
Selected response from:

Tony M
France
Local time: 23:22
Grading comment
Perfect. Thank you very much.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



SUMMARY OF ALL EXPLANATIONS PROVIDED
3 +8slowly moving up the queue to be the next to die
Tony M


Discussion entries: 1





  

Answers


36 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +8
shuffle along the line
slowly moving up the queue to be the next to die


Explanation:
Yes, I believe you're right: shuffling along the line as people do when queuing for something, in this case, queuing up to die. So as one person dies, you find yourself one place closer to its being your turn.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 heure (2014-08-23 08:42:33 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

The queue is, of course, in terms of the generations — once the parents have gone, you are (generally) the next in line to die.

Tony M
France
Local time: 23:22
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 44
Grading comment
Perfect. Thank you very much.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Jack Doughty
11 mins
  -> Thanks, Jack! All creeping inexorably towards that great Checkout in the sky... and there's no Green Shiled Stamps!

agree  Piyush Ojha
23 mins
  -> Thanks, Piyush!

agree  B D Finch
41 mins
  -> Thanks, B! :-)

agree  David Moore (X): You remember Green Shield stamps???!!!
2 hrs
  -> Thanks, David! Oh yes, do I heckerslike... and from the first time round, too ;-)

agree  Yvonne Gallagher
6 hrs
  -> Thanks, Gallagy!

agree  Edith Kelly
8 hrs
  -> Thanks, Edith!

agree  Catherine Fitzsimons
1 day 2 hrs
  -> Thanks, Catherine!

agree  Thayenga: One of these days.... but not yet. Happy Sunday, Tony. ;)
1 day 5 hrs
  -> Thanks, Thayenga! And the same to you, dear! :-)
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