What Does “Right on Cue” Mean?
“Right on cue” means at exactly the expected moment, as if an event had received a signal to begin. The word “cue” comes from the kind of signal that tells an actor when to speak or act. In this one-minute dialogue, loud music starts just as someone is falling asleep. Listen, then shadow all 11 lines.
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Right on Cue Meaning and Usage
Meaning: at exactly the expected moment, often with a sense that the timing was predictable.
A cue is a signal for an actor or performer to speak or act. That idea of precise timing gives the expression its figurative meaning.
In the dialogue, the upstairs music starts right when the speaker is falling asleep — exactly when the problem is expected.
Shadow “and then, right on cue” as one chunk so the timing and emphasis sound natural.
Learning goals
- Define “right on cue” in plain English.
- Understand how an actor's cue gives the expression its meaning.
- Distinguish the correct spelling “cue” from “queue.”
- Use the expression for something that happens at an expected moment.
About this practice
This 11-line English in a Minute dialogue links an actor's cue to an everyday example of predictable timing.
The conversation uses a noisy upstairs neighbor to make the expression easy to remember and repeat.
Practice tips
- 1Listen for the explanation of “cue” before the dialogue begins.
- 2Shadow the full sentence containing “right on cue,” not only the three-word phrase.
- 3Stress “right” and “cue” while keeping “on” lighter.
- 4Create one example in which something predictable happens at exactly the expected moment.
Frequently asked questions
What does “right on cue” mean?
Right on cue means at exactly the expected moment, as though a signal had told the event to happen.
Is it “right on cue” or “right on queue”?
The correct expression is “right on cue.” A cue is a signal to speak or act; a queue is a line of people or things waiting.
How do you use “right on cue” in a sentence?
You can say, “Right on cue, the music started as I was falling asleep,” when something happens at the expected moment.
Where does “right on cue” come from?
It comes from performance: a cue tells an actor when to say a line or take an action.
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