wait (redirected from waits upon)

wait for the other shoe to drop (American)

to wait for something bad to happen. Once a company starts laying of employees, those who are still working feel they are waiting for the other shoe to drop.

See also: drop, other, shoe

wait on someone hand and foot

to do everything for someone so that they do not have to do anything for themselves. He just wants a woman to wait on him hand and foot.

See also: foot, hand

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hurry up and wait

to prepare quickly for an activity that is then delayed. Air travel seems to be nothing but hurry up and wait — you race to the airport two hours before your flight time, and then depart two hours late.

See also: hurry

lie in wait

1. to stay hidden, ready to attack. Police said the suspect was lying in wait in a dark hallway. This person was found behind a wall, as if he were lying in wait for someone.

2. to delay doing something until the best time for it. The smart thing to do is lie in wait for the right time to ask for a raise.

lie low

See also: lie

wait a minute

I have just thought of something important. Wait a minute, what did you say her aunt's name was?

Usage notes: used to interrupt someone

See also: minute

wait a second

I have just thought of something important. Wait a second — when was the last time he stayed here?

Usage notes: usually used to interrupt someone

See also: second

wait and see

to be patient until a later time. Nothing can be done about it now, so you'll just have to wait and see.

See also: see

wait on someone

to serve someone. She waited on customers all day at the department store. He sits there in front of the TV and expects me to wait on him!

wait on someone hand and foot

wait on someone hand and foot

to do everything for another person. You should do some of the work around here instead of being waited on hand and foot all the time.

Usage notes: often used as a negative remark about someone thought of as unwilling to work

wait on someone

See also: foot, hand

wait someone out

to allow time to go past until someone does something. I have time and he doesn't, so I'll wait him out until he agrees to sell the business to me. She hoped to wait out her opponent, but that has not worked.

wait out something

to allow time to go past until something happens or ends. Should we leave now or wait out the storm?

wait (on) tables

to serve meals to people in a restaurant. She earned the money for college by waiting tables.

See also: table