anstehen
to queue
To wait in a line or queue in order to get one's turn.
EXAMPLE
Wir mussten eine halbe Stunde an der Kasse anstehen.
We had to queue at the checkout for half an hour.
anstehen
to queue / be coming up
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Meanings
anstehen
to be coming up
To be planned as the next task or event; to be imminent.
EXAMPLE
Morgen steht die mündliche Prüfung an.
Tomorrow the oral exam is coming up.
anstehen
to hesitate
To hesitate or have reservations about doing something. It is usually used in the negative.
EXAMPLE
Er stand nicht an, seine ehrliche Meinung zu sagen.
He did not hesitate to say his honest opinion.
anstehen
to suit
To fit someone well or suit them (referring to clothing). This meaning is rather outdated.
EXAMPLE
Dieses elegante Kleid steht dir ausgezeichnet an.
This elegant dress suits you excellently.
Usage tips
Separable verb
'Anstehen' (to queue / be coming up) is a separable verb. The prefix 'an' comes at the end in main clauses; in subordinate clauses the verb stays together, and in the infinitive with 'zu', 'zu' stands between 'an' and 'stehen'.
EXAMPLE
Welche Aufgaben stehen heute an?
Which tasks are coming up today?
Context clue
You can recognize the meaning from the subject: if a person 'ansteht' (queues), they are waiting in a line. If a thing or event (e.g., 'Prüfung' (exam), 'Fest' (celebration)) 'ansteht' (is coming up), it is planned as the next thing.
EXAMPLE
Viele Leute stehen für die neuen Konzertkarten an.
Many people are queuing for the new concert tickets.
Typical collocations
When you are waiting in a line, 'anstehen' (to queue) is often combined with an indication of place that begins with 'an' or 'vor'. Typical phrases are 'an der Kasse anstehen' (to queue at the checkout), 'am Schalter anstehen' (to queue at the counter), or 'vor dem Kino anstehen' (to queue in front of the cinema).
EXAMPLE
Ich musste zwanzig Minuten am Postschalter anstehen.
I had to queue at the post office counter for twenty minutes.
Typical events
In the meaning 'bevorstehen' (to be imminent), the verb is often used with abstract nouns for events or tasks. Common combinations are 'eine Prüfung steht an' (an exam is coming up), 'eine Entscheidung steht an' (a decision is coming up), or 'eine Reise steht an' (a trip is coming up).
EXAMPLE
Bald steht die wichtige Konferenz mit unseren Partnern an.
The important conference with our partners is coming up soon.
Fixed construction
In the meaning 'zögern' (to hesitate), 'anstehen' is almost always negated and used with an infinitive construction: 'nicht anstehen, etwas zu tun' (not to hesitate to do something).
EXAMPLE
Der Chef stand nicht an, den Fehler direkt anzusprechen.
The boss did not hesitate to address the mistake directly.
Outdated use
The meaning 'jemandem gut stehen' (to suit someone well, referring to clothing) is very rare today and sounds old-fashioned. It is found mainly in older literature.
EXAMPLE
In dem alten Roman stand der Heldin ihr Ballkleid wunderbar an.
In the old novel, the heroine's ball gown suited her wonderfully.
Compare with
anstehen vs zukommen
to approach / to be due
Both verbs can announce an upcoming task. Auf jemanden zukommen emphasizes who will personally be affected by it, often presenting it as a challenge. Anstehen presents the task more as the next item in the schedule or one that is due.
anstehen
Morgen steht die nächste schwierige Prüfung an.
The next difficult exam is coming up tomorrow.
zukommen
Morgen kommt eine schwierige Prüfung auf mich zu.
I have a difficult exam coming up tomorrow.
In real life
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