wait for it

phrase

Used to draw attention to and build suspense, often ironically, for a remark to come.

“I just found out that my ex-wife, who never wanted children, now has two kids called, wait for it, Ludwig and Balthazar.”

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Meanings

phrase
  1. colloquialidiomaticUsed to draw attention to and build suspense, often ironically, for a remark to come.

    I just found out that my ex-wife, who never wanted children, now has two kids called, wait for it, Ludwig and Balthazar.

    1 more example

    The National Museum of Crime and Punishment invites couples to "delight their dark side" this Valentine's Day weekend with -- wait for it -- stories of violence against romantic partners?

    2011 February 10, Carissa Dimargo, “'Crimes of Passion' Glorified for Valentine's Day”, in NBC Washington
Cite this entry
APA

wait for it. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/wait%20for%20it

MLA

“wait for it.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/wait%20for%20it. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “wait for it,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/wait%20for%20it.

Source: wait for it on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.