"Please wait..."

Sometimes when you are very busy and somebody asks you do do something, you need to ask them to wait.

Here are ten phrases for asking people to wait.

Ten ways to say "Please wait..."

casual · neutral · formal

Hang on a moment/minutecasualHang on a minute, I'm nearly ready.
Give us a second.casualGive us a second, I'm finding my wallet.
Half a moment/minute.casualHalf a minute, I'll get my shoes.
I'll be right with you.neutralPlease take a seat. I'll be right with you.
Sorry, I'm a bit tied up right now.neutralSorry, I'm a bit tied up right now. Can I call you back?
Wait and see.neutral"What's for dinner?" "Wait and see."
You'll just have to be patient.neutralThe results come next week. You'll just have to be patient.
Give me a chance.casualI've only just started. Give me a chance!
Don't be so impatient.neutralThe bus will come. Don't be so impatient.
We wish to apologize for the delay to...formalWe wish to apologize for the delay to the 8.15 train to Badulla.

How to use them

, and 3 are quite informal but polite in tone. You are busy and expect to be able to help them quite soon.
is especially useful in customer service situations where you want to ask a customer to wait for a few minutes.
is really saying how busy you are but at the same time you are asking people to wait. It is quite polite.
is refusing to tell somebody something about the near future. We often use it when we are preparing a surprise for somebody.
are less polite and are suggesting that you think the other person is being too impatient.
is more impolite and you are actually directly criticizing the other person for being impatient.
is a formal announcement that you might hear on a train or plane in the UK. It is followed by a noun phrase.

Quick check

Tap an answer. Nothing is saved.

See also: Delaying your answer

Finished this one? Tick it off. It is saved on this device only.