just a minute

English

Pronunciation

• Audio (AU)

  (file)

• IPA^(key): /ˈdʒʌst ə ˌmɪnɪt/, (emphatic) [ˈdʒɯst ə ˌmɪnɪt]

Noun

just a minute (uncountable)

1. (idiomatic) A short period of time, typically anywhere from several seconds to several minutes or more.
   • 1807, Charles Sedley, The barouche driver and his wife‎^[1], page 6:

     The hero of the turf accepted this bet, and on the day appointed, just a minute before starting, qualified his stallion to run for the purse.

2. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see just,‎ a,‎ minute.

Interjection

just a minute

1. (idiomatic) Stop; wait; hold on. Used to interrupt speech or proceedings so that one can make a comment or query.
   • 1827, John Galt, The last of the lairds: or, The life and opinions of Malachi Mailings ...‎^[2], page 221:

     Miss Girzie at these words started up, and said, "Sir, sir, just a minute."
     "I can hear no more," cried I; "it is plain you intend to make a bargain with my friend...

Synonyms

• just a second
• hold it right there
• hold on a minute
• wait a minute

Antonyms

• go on
• please continue

Translations

Stop; wait

• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 且慢 (zh) (qiěmàn)

• Finnish: pieni hetki, hetkinen (fi)
• Ojibwe: bekaa
• Russian: мину́точку (ru) (minútočku)
• Thai: ช้าก่อน (th) (cháa-gɔ̀ɔn)
• Vietnamese: please add this translation if you can