wait a minute/moment/second

idiom

1

—used to tell someone to stop and wait briefly

Wait a minute. I need to tie my shoe.

If you will just wait a second, I can explain what happened.

2

—used to interrupt someone or something because one has noticed, thought of, or remembered something

Wait a second—that's not what she said.

Wait a minute. I just remembered where I put the keys.

Examples of wait a minute/moment/second in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

But wait a second, pump the brakes, said a counter-chorus of analysts and executives, echoing Mr. Nadella. —Talmon Joseph Smith, New York Times, 14 Feb. 2025

There has to be a certain kind of people who can look at it and say ‘Hey, wait a second! —Harry Siegel, New York Daily News, 1 Feb. 2025

Though, one source notes, security was so tight that Montana, 68, had to wait a moment before greeting the Chiefs quarterback. —Bailey Richards, People.com, 9 Feb. 2025

For that kid to see me and Noah on the screen and go, hey, wait a minute, that’s someone like me on TV to watch it any time. —Scott Powers, The Athletic, 30 Dec. 2024

And—wait a second—why are the eggs that are available so expensive? —Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 25 Jan. 2025

Having someone here who can say, ‘Well, wait a minute. —Elizabeth Hernandez, The Denver Post, 18 Jan. 2025

Better yet, beauty lovers don’t need to wait a moment longer for coveted skin-care, makeup, and devices to go sale—so many great products already are! —Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 22 Nov. 2024

After shampooing, apply it to wet hair—then wait a minute and rinse it out. —Jenny Berg, Allure, 31 Dec. 2024