Flight Crew Last 90 Days 294; Flight Crew Type 4900
Communication Breakdown
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
General None Reported / Taken
Procedure
We had taxied to the hold pad on Taxiway R holding short of 22L. The button to call the flight attendants quit working and we researched the MEL from that position. Once completed; I advised MDW ATC that we were ready for departure. We were told to hold short of 22L and I acknowledged. About two minutes later; Tower told us to pull all the way up to the hold line; which I acknowledged. We had another couple of feet to the line and the Captain moved up all the way as instructed. About a minute later; the Controller said to move all the way up as there was no more 'position and hold' and that 'we would be cleared from that point.' The Captain and I were not sure what he meant as we were as far forward as we could go unless cleared to cross; line up and wait; or cleared to take off. The Controller stated again in a raised voice to; 'Pull all the way up. If you want to depart you have to play the game!' I asked if he wanted us to enter the runway in confusion since we had been told to hold short. He shouted out in a rapid pace to turn right heading 100; 22L cleared for takeoff. We departed and; upon landing at our destination; I listened to the recording and became convinced that he did want us to cross the hold short line and pull up to the white line indicating the start of Runway 22L. Of course neither the Captain nor I were not going to do that under any circumstances without the proper terminology being used to enter an active runway. ATC should never ask pilots to cross the hold short line to expedite departures even if they aren't allowed to use the line up and wait procedure. Hopefully; pilots are not doing this even with the pressure put upon us to cross the line. Tower asked us three times to pull up to edge of runway past hold short line.
MDW Air Carrier departure voiced concern regarding ATC's instructions reference taxiing up to the hold short line and/or runway edge line.