wait around: meaning & examples

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Language: English

Meanings:

  • 1.

    Globalinformalneutral
    • To remain in a place without taking action while awaiting someone or something.
    • To spend time idly or passively instead of acting immediately.

    Examples

    Beta

    • We had to wait around for over an hour before the train finally arrived.

      Tuvimos que esperar más de una hora antes de que el tren finalmente llegara.

    • Don’t just wait around here all day; let’s go grab some coffee while we wait.

      No te quedes aquí esperando todo el día; vamos a tomar un café mientras esperamos.

    • They were waiting around the lobby for the meeting to start.

      Estaban esperando en el vestíbulo a que comenzara la reunión.

    • I was waiting around the office for my interview, feeling nervous the whole time.

      Estuve esperando en la oficina para mi entrevista, sintiéndome nervioso todo el tiempo.

  • 2.

    Globalinformal
    • To delay making a decision or postponing activity, often implying wasted or unproductive time.

    Examples

    Beta

    • Instead of making a decision, they just waited around hoping the problem would solve itself.

      Instead of making a decision, they just waited around hoping the problem would solve itself.

    • Don’t wait around too long before acting, or the opportunity might disappear.

      Don’t wait around too long before acting, or the opportunity might disappear.

    • We can’t just wait around for the boss to call; we need to start preparing now.

      We can’t just wait around for the boss to call; we need to start preparing now.

Examples:

  • EN: Well, I'm not gonna wait around half the night for him.
    ES: No lo esperaré la mitad de la noche.
  • EN: You made me wait around for four hours for that?
    ES: ¿Me hizo esperar cuatro horas para esto?
  • EN: I suppose you'd want me to wait around doing nothing, while you were making up your mind.
    ES: - ¿Crees que me casaría contigo? - ¡Pues claro que sí! ¿Y Ud. Sarah Brown...
  • EN: What do you want me to do, wait around until you make up your mind?
    ES: ¿Qué quieres que haga? ¿Debo esperar hasta que te decidas?
  • EN: Hello? Of course, I could wait around if thought there's any chance...
    ES: Bueno, podría esperar si así pudiera lograr...
  • EN: You know he's got $12,000 in that desk, so you wait around till he ain't lookin', and bam!
    ES: Sabe que tiene 12 mil dólares en el escritorio... espera a que no mire y ¡pum!
  • EN: I wouldn't wait around for my man to get killed without doing something.
    ES: No dejaría que mataran a mi hombre sin hacer nada.
  • EN: We'll wait around a little while anyway.
    ES: Esperaremos de todas formas.
  • EN: Just wait around for Mr. Sloane to throw us all into jail?
    ES: ¿Esperar a que el Sr. Sloane nos empuje hacia la cárcel?
  • EN: Well, I ain't gonna wait around here all night.
    ES: Bueno, no voy a esperar aquí toda la noche.
  • EN: I wanted to wait around and dig and see if I could find the gold.
    ES: Quería esperar a ver si podía encontrar el oro.
  • EN: Well, if you're gonna wait around the lobby and ambush Miss Spencer... - someone is bound to get that impression.
    ES: Si espera para tenderle una emboscada a la Srta. Spencer... alguien puede tener esa impresión.
  • EN: We'll wait around a while.
    ES: Esperaremos por aquí.
  • EN: Please wait around backstage or you'll have to pay cover charge.
    ES: Esperala detrás del escenario o tendrá que pagar la cubierta.
  • EN: Tell him if he wants to wait around, maybe I can find some time for him later.
    ES: Dile que si quiere esperar por ahí, a lo mejor más tarde podré atenderlo.
  • EN: Well, I'm not gonna wait around half the night for him.
    ES: No lo esperaré la mitad de la noche.
  • EN: You made me wait around for four hours for that?
    ES: ¿Me hizo esperar cuatro horas para esto?
  • EN: I suppose you'd want me to wait around doing nothing, while you were making up your mind.
    ES: - ¿Crees que me casaría contigo? - ¡Pues claro que sí! ¿Y Ud. Sarah Brown...
  • EN: What do you want me to do, wait around until you make up your mind?
    ES: ¿Qué quieres que haga? ¿Debo esperar hasta que te decidas?
  • EN: Hello? Of course, I could wait around if thought there's any chance...
    ES: Bueno, podría esperar si así pudiera lograr...
  • EN: You know he's got $12,000 in that desk, so you wait around till he ain't lookin', and bam!
    ES: Sabe que tiene 12 mil dólares en el escritorio... espera a que no mire y ¡pum!
  • EN: I wouldn't wait around for my man to get killed without doing something.
    ES: No dejaría que mataran a mi hombre sin hacer nada.
  • EN: We'll wait around a little while anyway.
    ES: Esperaremos de todas formas.
  • EN: Just wait around for Mr. Sloane to throw us all into jail?
    ES: ¿Esperar a que el Sr. Sloane nos empuje hacia la cárcel?
  • EN: Well, I ain't gonna wait around here all night.
    ES: Bueno, no voy a esperar aquí toda la noche.
  • EN: I wanted to wait around and dig and see if I could find the gold.
    ES: Quería esperar a ver si podía encontrar el oro.
  • EN: Well, if you're gonna wait around the lobby and ambush Miss Spencer... - someone is bound to get that impression.
    ES: Si espera para tenderle una emboscada a la Srta. Spencer... alguien puede tener esa impresión.
  • EN: We'll wait around a while.
    ES: Esperaremos por aquí.
  • EN: Please wait around backstage or you'll have to pay cover charge.
    ES: Esperala detrás del escenario o tendrá que pagar la cubierta.
  • EN: Tell him if he wants to wait around, maybe I can find some time for him later.
    ES: Dile que si quiere esperar por ahí, a lo mejor más tarde podré atenderlo.

Related Idioms

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Sourced from Wiktionary

Source: Wiktionary

wait around: Meaning, Examples & Usage (English) | Idiomator