Cutting into a queue
Informal Can sound rude
What it really means
Pushing in ahead of people who were waiting first is one of the rudest everyday behaviours in Britain. Even doing it by accident gets you cold looks. If you genuinely didn't see the queue, apologise and move to the back. If you're in a hurry, you can ask politely — some people will let you go ahead.
Chinese explanation
插队是英国日常生活中最失礼的行为之一，就算是无意的也会招来冷眼。如果真没看见队伍，道个歉然后去队尾。赶时间的话可以礼貌地请求，有些人会让你先来。
Example conversation
A: Sorry, I think you might be cutting into the queue — the line starts back there.
B: Oh, I'm so sorry, I didn't see it. I'll go to the back.
A：不好意思，你好像插队了——队伍从那边开始排。
B：啊，真抱歉，我没看见。我去后面排。
What you could say back
Related phrases
Go deeper
All Customs & Etiquette
Reviewed by the UK Decoded editorial team
· Last checked 24 July 2026 · Report a mistake