just a minute
One moment please
Just a minute is a request for a brief pause or delay: Just a minute, I need to grab my keys.
The "minute" is rarely literal—it signals the speaker needs a moment, whether five seconds or five minutes.
The phrase can also express mild objection or a desire to interrupt: Now just a minute—that's not what I said.
Delay until later
- hold onWait or maintain grip
- momentBrief period of time
- secondUnit smaller than minute
- secSlang for moment
jiffy · tick · instant · briefly · shortly · hang on · one moment · momentarily
Wait or maintain grip
- waitDelay until later
- not so fastUrging someone to pause
- think againRevise your reasoning
- reconsiderThink about something anew
doubt · objection · challenge · dispute · question · protest · hesitation · reservation
Apology for minor intrusion
- pardonOfficial release from punishment
- hold that thoughtRequest to pause mid-conversation
- wait upPause for someone behind
- stopCease all motion
attention · listen · hear me out · quick question · clarification · interruption
Close to completion
- shortlyIn little time
- soonIn brief time
- coming upArriving in near future
- approachingComing toward something
momentarily · any second · right away · on the way · almost there · around the corner
wait
Delay until later
sec · jiffy · tick · instant · briefly · shortly · hang on · one moment · momentarily · intermission
hold on
Wait or maintain grip
- waitDelay until later
- not so fastUrging someone to pause
- think againRevise your reasoning
reconsider · doubt · objection · challenge · dispute · question · protest · hesitation · reservation · second thought
excuse me
Apology for minor intrusion
- pardonOfficial release from punishment
- hold that thoughtRequest to pause mid-conversation
- wait upPause for someone behind
stop · attention · listen · hear me out · quick question · clarification · interruption
nearly done
Close to completion
approaching · momentarily · any second · right away · on the way · almost there · around the corner
- patience phraseswait, hold on, one moment, one second, in a moment
- Polite delaysexcuse me, one moment, hold on, bear with me, pardon me
just a minuteright now
At the present moment
immediately · right away · this instant · at once · instantly
just a minuteyes sir
Respectful military assent
right away · coming · on it · at your service · of course
just, minute, minutes, minutiae, minutely, minuteness, just a moment