BrE: "Wait for it..."

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Jjf

#153666 Mon, 31 Oct 05 10:15 PM

I heard the announcer on the BBC say this the other day. I don't remember the exact situation, so I'll invent one:

"She arrived at the party in (wait for it) a moped."

Basically he used "wait for it" as an funny commentary, in effect saying "pause to savor this moment of delicious irony." I'd never heard the phrase before, but I thought it was hilarous. Is this a common expression in BrE to convey sarcasm or dry humor?

Jjf

Joined on Mon, Oct 31 2005

New Member (09)

Expressions, Irony

Clive

#153687 Mon, 31 Oct 05 11:04 PM

Hi,

I'd say 'yes', although I haven't been in Britain for a long time.

It's not a new expression. My understanding of its origin is that it comes from the army.

The image is the sergeant giving orders to a group of soldiers. They know he is going to give the order, 'Forward march! He says 'Forward .....' and pauses. Some young soldier starts to step forward, and the sergeant continues '....wait for it .......march!' and completes the order.

Best wishes, Clive

Clive

Joined on Thu, Oct 28 2004

Canada

Veteran Member (22,480)

El tango argentino es un pensamiento triste que se puede bailar (The tango argentino is a sad thought which can be danced) Enrique Santos Discépolo

Expressions

MrPedantic

#153967 Tue, 01 Nov 05 05:55 PM

Jjf wrote:
I heard the announcer on the BBC say this the other day. I don't remember the exact situation, so I'll invent one: "She arrived at the party in (wait for it) a moped." Basically he used "wait for it" as an funny commentary, in effect saying "pause to savor this moment of delicious irony." I'd never heard the phrase before, but I thought it was hilarous. Is this a common expression in BrE to convey sarcasm or dry humor?

The curious thing is, you don't often hear the phrase in everyday conversation. It seems to require the context "someone addressing a number of other people" (e.g. speeches, broadcasters, etc.). I would feel slightly irritated if I were talking to a friend, and he inserted a "wait for it!".

MrP

MrPedantic

Joined on Tue, Oct 12 2004

Veteran Member (12,167)

...opella forensis / adducit febris...

Expressions, Conversations, Numbers, Irony