minute - thesaurus entry

phrases

• by the minute

  used for referring to something that is changing or developing very quickly

  *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of minute*

  Words used to describe changes: away, cosmetic, developmental, drastic, evolutionary, gradual, gradually, quicksilver, radical, radically... more

• every minute counts

  it is important not to delay or waste time

  *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of minute*

  Urgent: exigent, urgent, immediate, pressing, uppermost, imperative, as a matter of urgency/priority, every minute counts, it’s now or never, on the front burner... more

• every minute (of something)

  all of a period of time

  *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of minute*

  All the time and always: always, necessarily, ever, constantly, invariably, hourly, all the while, at all times, round-the-clock... more

• hang on/hold on a minute

  spoken
  1. 1

     used for asking someone to wait for a short period of time, especially someone who you are talking to on the telephone

     *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of minute*

     Ways of telling or asking someone to wait: hold on, just wait until/till, hang on/hold on a minute, just a minute/moment/second, let me see/think, bear with me/us, all in good time, not so fast... more
  2. 2

     used when you are annoyed and want someone to stop what they are doing and listen

     *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of minute*

     Expressions used for telling someone to pay attention: right, okay then, hello, all right, see?, just/wait a moment, listen up, hey, look, yo... more

• the last minute

  the latest possible time for doing something

  *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of minute*

  Deadlines and time limits: deadline, timing, time limit, closing date, due date, play date, sell-by date, due, sunset provision, the last minute... more

• not for a/one minute

  used in negative statements for emphasizing what you are saying

  *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of minute*

  Ways of emphasizing what you are saying: actively, actual, any, awful, awfully, bloody, e’en, e’er, entirely, even... more

• the minute you do something

  1. 1

     as soon as you do something

     *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of minute*

     After another event or time: after, following, since, subsequently, ensuing, succeeding, beyond, subsequent, in the course of time, in time... more
  2. 2

     used for saying that a particular action causes a quick result or reaction

     *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of minute*

     Reacting quickly or strongly: sensitive, responsive, ticklish, the minute you do something, Pavlovian, hair-trigger... more

• this minute

  informal
  immediately, used especially for telling someone to do something at once

  *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of minute*

  Happening or done quickly, suddenly or immediately: suddenly, at once, straight away, promptly, on-the-spot, headlong, right now, straight, instantly, fast... more

• wait/just a minute

  spoken
  1. 1

     used for asking someone to wait or be patient

     *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of minute*

     Ways of telling or asking someone to wait: hold on, just wait until/till, hang on/hold on a minute, just a minute/moment/second, let me see/think, bear with me/us, all in good time, not so fast... more
  2. 2

     used when you are about to disagree with what someone has said

     *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of minute*

     Expressions showing anger and used in arguments: arguably, what does something have to do with...?, firstly, ha, hah, my, of course, pshaw, puh-leeze, right... more