Wait a minute
Example: Wait a minute before you open the door, please.
Definition
"Wait a minute" is an expression used to ask someone to pause or delay an action briefly, usually for a short period of time. It often implies a request for patience or a moment to think before proceeding, as in 'Wait a minute before you open the door, please.'
Etymology
The phrase "wait a minute" combines 'wait,' meaning to stay in place or delay action, with 'a minute,' a short unit of time. It likely originated from everyday speech where people asked others to pause briefly. Did you know? The exact origin is simple but effective, reflecting how time units became part of casual requests.
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"Wait a minute" appears in the Vocaplus list "English - General - Idioms and Proverbs - (A1) - set 1", containing 104 commonly used expressions.
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