wait an eternity

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "wait an eternity" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express a feeling of waiting for an excessively long time, often in a dramatic or exaggerated manner. Example: "I had to wait an eternity for the bus to arrive, and by the time it did, I was freezing cold."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

As children, it seemed we had to wait an eternity to wait for something to happen.

The New York Times - Science

8.07pm BST Rose and Mickelson have to wait an eternity to send their second shots into the par-five 5th.

The Guardian - Sport

"What happens is that we wait an eternity for someone who is already found guilty and that a jury found deserves to die.

The New York Times

Though he had won a reputation for taste and playing well with others, he had learned the hard way that financiers are paid back fast, while producers can wait an eternity for their back-end profits.

The New York Times

By utilizing the UHS-1 bus interfaces, SanDisk's just-announced SDHC card achieves 45MB/s both reading and writing, which as the presser mentions, is perfect for those shooting RAW HD video and don't wanna wait an eternity transferring the data to a workstation.

TechCrunch

I'd wait an eternity to have you as my husband.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

I've waited an eternity for a turn while someone walked from the shallow end to the middle and back, over and over.

The New York Times

If the roles compete against each other, our money is on this one to net him a nomination; here Hanks plays a desperate American salesman waiting an eternity to meet a Saudi Arabian billionaire.

The Guardian - Film

Based on the popular novel by Dave Eggers, the drama reunites Hanks with one of his Cloud Atlas directors, Tom Tykwer, for a freewheeling tale about a desperate American salesman waiting an eternity to meet a Saudi Arabian billionaire.

The Guardian - Film

33 Novak cuts inside from the right but waits an eternity before rolling it back from a decent shooting position, Acimovic obliging by hitting it into Row Z with what is nevertheless Slovenia's first chance in open play.

The Guardian - Sport

Macy has expressed disdain for serial character work in films: the chasing (though he has to do less of that these days) and just the sheer hassle of standing around miles from home, waiting an eternity for new camera set-ups and then delivering a few seconds of actual acting.

The Guardian - Film

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "wait an eternity" when you want to emphasize the feeling of a long and drawn-out waiting period. This phrase adds a touch of drama and hyperbole to your writing.

Common error

While "wait an eternity" can be effective, avoid overusing it. Constant repetition can diminish its impact and make your writing sound repetitive. Use it sparingly for maximum effect.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "wait an eternity" functions as an idiomatic expression to emphasize the perceived length of a waiting period. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a correct and usable phrase, adding a dramatic flair to descriptions of waiting. This usage aligns with various examples, where the phrase highlights the subjective experience of time.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "wait an eternity" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase, as confirmed by Ludwig AI, employed to express the feeling of a prolonged and often frustrating wait. While the phrase is not exceedingly common, it's frequently encountered in news and media contexts. When writing, use it to emphasize the subjective experience of time and to add a touch of dramatic exaggeration. Remember, it's more impactful when used sparingly. For less emphatic alternatives, consider using phrases like "wait forever" or "wait a long time".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

wait forever

A more common and general way to express a very long wait.

wait an age

Similar to "wait an eternity" but perhaps slightly less dramatic.

wait for ages

Similar to "wait an age", implying a lengthy period.

wait a lifetime

Emphasizes the length of the wait as a significant portion of one's life.

wait seemingly forever

Highlights the subjective feeling of the wait being endless.

wait until the cows come home

An idiomatic expression meaning to wait for a very long time, possibly in vain.

wait a long time

A simple and direct way to express a considerable wait.

wait until hell freezes over

Implies that the event being waited for is unlikely to ever happen.

cool one's heels

An idiomatic expression meaning to wait patiently, often implying boredom or frustration.

bide one's time

To wait patiently for an opportunity.

FAQs

How can I use "wait an eternity" in a sentence?

You can use "wait an eternity" to describe a situation where the waiting time feels excessively long. For example: "I had to "wait an eternity" for the bus this morning".

What can I say instead of "wait an eternity"?

You can use alternatives like "wait forever", "wait an age", or "wait a lifetime" depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "wait an eternity"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct. The phrase "wait an eternity" is a common idiom used to express a feeling of waiting for a very long time.

What is the difference between "wait an eternity" and "wait a long time"?

"Wait an eternity" is a more emphatic and hyperbolic way of saying "wait a long time". It suggests that the waiting period felt exceptionally long, possibly longer than it actually was.