wait a minute

English

Interjection

wait a minute

1. Used to indicate a new insight or dawning understanding.
   • 2005, Susan Pargman, Huck Finn's High-Tailin' Adventures, page 4:

     BEN: (Suddenly remembers.) Wait a minute, Huckleberry Finn don't have no family.

   • 2007, Kathleen A. Froriep, The Conscious Thought Processes of College English Faculty when Reading Wordless Books: A Verbal Protocol Study, →ISBN:

     Reader E questioned the plausibility of laundry hanging on a clothesline at night, and Reader C's forward momentum was stalled as he commented, “Wait a minute, wait a minute, wait a minute! She has a different basket..."

   • 2009, Nancy Bishop, Secrets from the Casting Couch: On Camera Strategies for Actors from a Casting Director, →ISBN:

     Wait a minute. Was it in the cemetery?

   • 2010, David Stevens, Wait-A-Minute Bridge, →ISBN, page 96:

     West ruffs the third diamond and the defenders cash their two clubs for down one. "Wait a minute," you exclaim confidently. "I know what to do. I have to draw trumps earlier!"

2. Used to indicate disagreement or doubt.
   • 2004, Jon Scieszka, Tut, Tut #6, →ISBN:

     “Wait a minute, wait a minute, wait ... a ... minute,” said Fred. “I don't mind a little cologne, but I am not going to put on eye shadow.

   • 2012, Marilyn King, Sisters: And Other Fast Fiction, →ISBN:

     “Wait a minute. I'm not picking her apart. I'm just trying to be helpful. She needs a little guidance, that's all.”

   • 2013, Robert Vaughan, When Hell Came to Texas, →ISBN:

     “Wait a minute, I don't know if I want to do this or not. You're talking about losing ten dollars; I could lose my life.”

Verb

wait a minute (third-person singular simple present waits a minute, present participle waiting a minute, simple past and past participle waited a minute)

1. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see wait,‎ minute.
   • 2005, Lawrence A. Hoffman, Israel--a Spiritual Travel Guide, →ISBN:

     They would not think twice about asking you to wait a minute while they take another picture, or ask another question of the guide.

   • 2012, Peter Cheyney, Never a Dull Moment, →ISBN:

     I wait a minute—then I get an idea.

   • 2012, Sheila L. Ramsey, Quest for a Gentleman: Sands of the First Freedom, →ISBN, page A-129:

     You just wait a minute. Let them talk before you say anything.

   • 2012, Myrna Temte, Wyoming Wildcat, →ISBN:

     He asked my mom, “Ellen are you ready yet?” She said, “Wait a minute and I will be.”

   • 2015, Jeanette Lasserre, Once Upon a Time...wait a minute, →ISBN:

     Laughing, he said, “That dress is in the closet too, she should show it to you. Wait a minute, son, I'll be right back.”

See also

• wait-a-minute tree