little wait

USAGE SUMMARY

"little wait" is a grammatically correct phrase that can be used in written English.
It means a short period of time spent waiting. You can use it whenever you want to describe a brief amount of time spent waiting for something. Example: "We only had a little wait before our table was ready at the restaurant."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

"Right now, it's still a little wait and see".

The New York Times

"I'm afraid it's going to be a little wait," he said.

The New Yorker

Normally this early there is little wait for a ride, he said.

The New York Times

At the booths of the big Wall Street companies and banks, students had little wait.

The New York Times

It might be tricky to get a table right now, but do persevere: there'll be another big opening along soon to distract them, and a dining experience this good is worth a little wait.

Independent

CALL the reservation desk at the Lodge at Keyah Grande on nights or weekends when the call volume is at its peak, and you can expect a little wait.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

In Vanney's case, there was little waiting around.

The New York Times - Sports

In photos, there is very little waiting-to-be-seen; photos are not attendant.

The Guardian - Arts

Publicly, she said little, waiting for Russian misbehavior to bring the German public around.

The New Yorker

The two said little, waiting intently near the marriage bureau's revolving doors through the early morning.

The New York Times

"I walked into this little waiting room and there were probably 30 women sitting there crying quietly.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "little wait" to soften potential frustration when informing someone there will be a slight delay.

Common error

Avoid using "little wait" excessively in formal writing; opt for more precise terms like "brief delay" or "short pause" for enhanced clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "little wait" functions as a noun phrase, where "little" modifies the noun "wait". According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is grammatically correct and used to denote a short period of waiting. The examples in Ludwig demonstrate usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "little wait" is a grammatically sound phrase used to indicate a short period of waiting. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness, and the examples illustrate its usage across diverse contexts, predominantly in news and media. While its frequency is uncommon, as indicated by Ludwig, it serves as a versatile phrase to soften potential frustrations when informing someone of a brief delay. Consider alternatives like "short wait" or "brief delay" for more formal settings, and be mindful of overuse to maintain clarity in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

short wait

Emphasizes the brevity of the waiting period, similar to the original phrase.

quick wait

Implies the waiting period will be resolved rapidly.

small delay

Mirrors the structure of "little wait" but substitutes "delay".

momentary wait

Highlights that the waiting period is only for a moment.

minor delay

Emphasizes the insignificance of the delay.

brief delay

Replaces "wait" with "delay", highlighting the interruption or pause.

tiny wait

Underlines the minimal duration of the waiting time.

slight pause

Uses "pause" to denote a temporary cessation, akin to waiting.

short anticipation

Focuses on the anticipation aspect rather than the waiting itself.

brief interlude

Uses "interlude" to express a short period between events, suggesting a wait.

FAQs

How can I use "little wait" in a sentence?

You can say, "There will be a "little wait" before your table is ready", or "After a "little wait", the doctor finally called my name".

What can I say instead of "little wait"?

You can use alternatives like "short wait", "brief delay", or "slight pause" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "little wait" or "short wait"?

Both "little wait" and "short wait" are acceptable, but "short wait" might be perceived as slightly more formal in some contexts.

What does "little wait" imply about the duration?

Using "little wait" suggests that the waiting period is expected to be relatively brief and not significantly inconvenient.