(hold/hang) on a (minute/second/moment)
Meaning(s)
1. wait for a short time, wait a while
Popularity
High
Professional
High
Social
How to Memorize
hold/hang on a minute/second/moment while I do sth
Analysis
If you ask someone to 'hold on' or 'hang on', you are asking them to wait for a short time. You might use this expression while leaving a call for a moment or before putting someone on hold. In everyday spoken English we might shorten this to 'just a sec', or use 'give me/gimme a second/minute/moment' instead of hold/hang on. You can use it to ask for time to find something or someone: "Do you have that photocopying done for me? - Yes, it's here somewhere. Hold on a second." Despite this expression sounding very casual, you will hear it in business contexts a lot.
Social Examples (Basic)
- Waiter: Gimme a minute, I'll be right with you when I've cleaned this table.
- I'm not ready for the meeting yet. I need to read over my notes again. Just a sec.
- They were shouting at him to hurry, but he told them to hold on a moment while he got dressed.
- Tom: Come on! We'll be late! Mary: Yeah, just hang on a second. I'm putting my make-up on.
- Gimme a moment. I'm almost ready.
Professional Examples (Basic)
- If you hold on a moment I can direct your call to Paul in account management.
- Hang on a second, I just want to test this microphone before letting people into the presentation.
- If you can hang on for a moment I can send a message to Karen to check if she is in the building.