hold/hang on a minute

idiom

informal

1

—used to tell someone to wait or to stop for a brief time

"Aren't you finished yet?" "Hold on a minute. I'm almost done."

Hang on a minute—I didn't hear you. Could you repeat what you said?

2

—used to express surprise or disbelief

Hold on a minute! That's not what you said yesterday!

Examples of hold/hang on a minute in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Then hold on a minute, not only is the bulk of the principle and the bulk of the capital lent by Americans to be spent on Americans, but the principle is also likely to be being nibbled away by inflation. —Clem Chambers, Forbes, 6 Dec. 2024

But hang on a minute, she’s got these boys under her thumb. —Clover Hope, ELLE, 23 Aug. 2023

But Chicago native Lucas Kwan Peterson says hold on a minute. —Laurie Ochoa, Los Angeles Times, 24 Sep. 2022

Well, but, but, but, but hold on a minute too, cuz O’Malley Sweeney and Shean are the three that have been really the most vocal about building on a toxic site. —Laura Johnston, cleveland, 26 Aug. 2022