In the meantime

Meaning

The idiom "in the meantime" is used to indicate that something is happening or will happen in the present moment, while waiting for another event or situation to occur. It suggests that the current action or state of affairs is only temporary and will be replaced by a different one once the desired outcome is achieved.

Usage

• "I'll finish this report in the meantime, so you can have it by tomorrow morning." (This sentence shows how the speaker is performing an action while waiting for something else to happen.)
• "We need to take a break and have some snacks in the meantime." (Here, the speaker suggests that they are taking a moment to relax before continuing with their work.)
• "I don't know what I'll do in the meantime until my new job starts next week." (This sentence shows how the speaker is waiting for a new opportunity to arise and is planning for it in the meantime.)
• "We can't start painting until we find the right color scheme, but we can gather materials in the meantime." (Here, the speaker is preparing for an event by gathering materials while waiting for another step to be completed.)
• "I'll go for a run in the park in the meantime while you finish this task." (This sentence shows how the speaker is performing an action while waiting for the other person to complete their own task.)

Roots and History

The earliest known use of the idiom "in the meantime" can be traced back to the 16th century. The first recorded use of the phrase was in a collection of sayings in 1570, where it was used as a form of encouragement to those who were waiting for something to happen. Over time, the idiom has evolved to become more commonly used in everyday language and is now often used as a way to bridge the gap between two different events or situations.

Synonyms in English

• In the meantime, we can do X, Y, Z.
• While waiting for this to happen, we can do that.
• Between now and then, let's take care of this.
• In the meanwhile, there are a few things we need to do.

Synonyms in other languages

• French: "Dans le temps qu'il fait" - This translates to "In the time it takes." It is used similarly to "in the meantime," but with a more specific focus on the duration of time.
• German: "Wie lange du es machest?" - This means "How long are you going to take?" It is often used as a way to ask for more information about how long a task or activity will take.
• Spanish: "Mientras tanto, puedo hacer esto" - This translates to "In the meantime, I can do this." It is used to indicate that something else is happening while waiting for another event or situation to occur.
• Italian: "Per quanto tempo ci sono qui?" - This means "How long are you going to stay here?" It is often used as a way to ask for more information about how long someone will be staying in a particular place or location.

Similar Idioms

• for a while

• in the pipeline

• on the cards