wait a minute

alternative waitaminute

1. Used to indicate a new insight or dawning understanding.

   Wait a minute. Was it in the cemetery?

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

   4 more examples

   HAL: Go ahead. JOHN: Wait a minute. That tone of voice… you don’t like it!

   2004 March, Hal Helms, “Adventures in Encapsulation; Part 2: Talking OO: Learning to think in ‘objects’”, in Robert Diamond, editor, ColdFusion Developer’s Journal, volume 6, number 3, Montvale, N.J.: SYS-CON Publications, →ISSN, →OCLC, pages 24–25

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

   2005, Susan Pargman, Huck Finn's High-Tailin' Adventures, page 4

   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..."

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

   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!"

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

2. Used to indicate disagreement or doubt.

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

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

   2 more examples

   “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.

   2004, Jon Scieszka, Tut, Tut #6, →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.”

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

present singular third person waits a minute · participle present waiting a minute · participle past waited a minute · past waited a minute · alternative waitaminute

1. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see wait, minute.

   I wait a minute—then I get an idea.

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

   4 more examples

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

   2005, Lawrence A. Hoffman, Israel--a Spiritual Travel Guide, →ISBN

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

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

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

   2012, Myrna Temte, Wyoming Wildcat, →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.”

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