Definition of wait around

wait aroundphrasal verb

chờ đợi xung quanh

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The phrase "wait around" is a contemporary English expression that represents the action of lingering or staying in a particular place, without any immediate activity or purpose, in the expectation of something else happening or being met with. The origin of this idiom can be traced back to the Old English word "wiētan," which meant "to remain, watch, or wait." This word evolved over time, and during the Middle English period, it transformed into "witen" which meant "to be aware of, know, or observe." As the English language evolved further, the word "wait" began to be used independently to denote the act of remaining or staying in anticipation of something. This usage became prominent during the 16th century, and by the mid-17th century, the phrase "wait around" started to emerge as a more extended version of "wait." Today, "wait around" is a conversational expression that is commonly used in casual language to indicate a passive anticipation of an event or outcome, while "wait" serves to depict a more formal and succinct form of the same meaning. The term "around" in the expression could signify a broader time frame or space that encompasses various conditions for possible events to happen.

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Example:
  • After submitting my application, I've been waiting around for a response from the company.

    Sau khi nộp đơn, tôi đã chờ phản hồi từ công ty.

  • While we wait around for the taxi, let's grab a coffee from this nearby cafe.

    Trong lúc đợi taxi, chúng ta hãy uống một cốc cà phê ở quán cà phê gần đó.

  • I've been feeling a bit under the weather, so I've been waiting around in bed for the day to pass by.

    Tôi cảm thấy hơi không khỏe nên đã nằm trên giường chờ ngày trôi qua.

  • Before boarding the plane, we had to wait around in the airport lounge for a few hours.

    Trước khi lên máy bay, chúng tôi phải chờ ở phòng chờ sân bay vài giờ.

  • My friends and I are waiting around for the other group to arrive before we can start the hiking trip.

    Tôi và bạn bè đang đợi nhóm khác đến trước khi chúng tôi có thể bắt đầu chuyến đi bộ đường dài.

  • The student council president has been waiting around for a volunteer to step up and take charge of the event planning.

    Chủ tịch hội học sinh đang chờ một tình nguyện viên đứng ra phụ trách kế hoạch cho sự kiện.

  • The customers at the bakery had to wait around in line for more than an hour due to the long queue.

    Khách hàng tại tiệm bánh phải xếp hàng chờ đợi hơn một giờ đồng hồ vì hàng đợi quá dài.

  • I've been waiting around for my sister to wake up so we can go for a morning jog together.

    Tôi đang đợi chị gái tôi thức dậy để chúng tôi có thể cùng nhau chạy bộ buổi sáng.

  • My parents have been waiting around for our dinner to arrive ever since we placed the order half an hour ago.

    Bố mẹ tôi đã đợi bữa tối của chúng tôi được mang ra kể từ khi chúng tôi đặt hàng cách đây nửa giờ.

  • I've been waiting around for this sale to end since last week and finally, it will be over today!

    Tôi đã chờ đợt giảm giá này kết thúc từ tuần trước và cuối cùng thì nó đã kết thúc vào hôm nay!