vi. & vt.等，期待 stay somewhere without doing anything until sb/sth comes or sth happens

　～ a bit　稍等一会儿
　～ a minute　稍等
　～ a moment　等一会儿
　～ a whole day　等了一整天
　～ an hour　等一小时
　～ sb's opportunity　等待时机
　～ sb's turn　等着轮到（自己）
　～ anxiously　焦急地等候
　～ confidently　有把握地等待
　～ impatiently　不耐烦地等
　～ mutely　沉默地等待
　～ passively　被动地等待
　～ patiently　耐心等待
　～ sadly　悲伤地等待
　～ at table　伺候（别人）用餐
　～ for a better chance　等待更好的时机
　～ for a reply　等候答复
　～ for sb　等某人
　～ for the sign　等待信号
　～ on〔upon〕　在…方面伺候
　～ on sb hand and foot　周到地服侍（某人）
　～ on sb like a slave　像奴隶一样服侍（某人）
　～ on table　伺候（别人）用餐

　How long have you been waiting?　你等了多久?
　They waited Sunday and Monday for the fever to break, it didn't.　星期日和星期一他们都在等着热度退下去，可是热度就是不退。
　You'll have to wait until the end of the month before I can pay you.　你得等到月底我才能付给你钱。
　I have some business in Shanghai, but it can wait.　我在上海有些业务，但那可以等等。
　That work will have to wait.　那项工作必须得搁一下。
　The matter can wait until the next meeting, it's not urgent.　这件事可以等到下次开会，不是急事。
　That waiter does not know how to wait.　那侍者不知道怎么侍候顾客。
　She is waiting to get an answer from you.　她在等着你的回音。
　They are waiting to buy the new books.　他们等着买新书。
　She had been waiting in the queue to buy some stamps.　她一直在排队等着买些邮票。
　I'm waiting to use that machine.　我在等着用那台机器。
　They couldn't wait to learn how wise or foolish their friends and neighbors might be.　他们迫不及待地想了解他们的朋友和邻居有多聪明还是有多愚蠢。
　I can't wait to see you all again.　我等不及想再见到你们大家。
　The boys could hardly wait to begin their duties.　男孩们急于动手执行任务。
　Her job is waiting table.　她在餐馆当服务员。
　For nearly two hours, I waited my turn at the barber's.　我在理发馆排队，等了差不多两个小时。
　He's waiting his opportunity.　他在等机会。
　They were waiting the signal.　他们在等候信号。
　We are now waiting the result.　我们现在在等结果。
　Tom held his girlfriend's hands and waited her answer.　汤姆握住他女朋友的手等候她的回答。
　He said the embassy was waiting word from their government.　他说，大使馆正在等他们政府的指示。

 ♣ wait about〔around〕　(v.+adv.)
　在某处等待着　stay in place because sb who is expected has not arrived, etc.
　〔说明〕 wait about〔around〕通常用于进行体。
　While the contest judges were having a hard time reaching an agreement, all the contestants were waiting about in the hall.　当竞赛评委们难以达成一致的意见时，所有参赛者都在礼堂等着。
　I couldn't see the girls anywhere, there were just a few old men waiting about doing nothing.　我在哪儿也看不见那些姑娘们，只有几位老者闲呆着等候。
　Show the guests to their seats. Don't keep them waiting about in the hall.　带客人到他们的座位上去，别让他们在大厅里等候。
　You've kept me waiting about here for a whole hour.　你让我在这儿傻等了整整一个钟头了。
 ♣ wait and see
　等着瞧　bide one's time
　I prefer to wait and see how things go.　我比较想等着看事情怎么发展。
　If we give him the money now, before he's proved that he'll be able to pay it back, we may lose it completely. I think we should wait and see.　要是我们在他证明自己有偿还能力以前就借给他钱，我们的钱就可能落空。我看还是应该等等看。
 ♣ wait at　(v.+prep.)
1. 在（某处）等候 stay in a place
　Six people were waiting at the bus stop.　有六个人在汽车站等车。
　There was I, waiting at the church.　我就在那里，在教堂等待。
2. 在饭馆当侍者 be as a waiter in a restaurant
　She couldn't get any other job except waiting at table, so she had to do that although it was poorly paid and hard on her feet.　除了在饭馆当侍者，她找不到任何工作，所以她只得干，尽管工资微薄，两条腿也吃不消。
 ♣ wait behind　(v.+adv.)
　在其他人走后留下来　remain somewhere after other people have left
　If you wait behind after class, I will give you some help with that difficult exercise.　如果你课后留下来，我将帮着你做那道难题。
　I'd like to ask you something in private. Could you wait behind for a couple of minutes?　我想私下问你一点事。你能在别人走后稍留几分钟吗?
　One or two students waited behind to put more questions to the teacher.　有一两个学生留下想再问老师几个问题。
 ♣ wait for　(v.+prep.)
1. 等待，等候 expect; await
　Please wait for me at the gate.　请在大门口等我。
　We will wait for you on the corner of Broadway and 86th Street.　我们将在百老汇大街和86号大街的拐角处等你。
　We waited for him more than an hour and finally left.　我们等了他一个多小时最后才离开。
　I've been waiting for the bus for half an hour.　我已等车等了半个小时了。
　The young people took over window seats on the right side, waiting for the approach of the great oak tree.　年轻人都坐到了车厢右边靠窗的座位上，等着那棵大橡树的出现。
　We are waiting for better weather.　我们在等待更好的天气。
　He waited impatiently for an answer.　他不耐烦地等着答复。
　The children wait impatiently for the vacation.　孩子们焦急地等待着假期的来临。
　I can't wait for this week to end.　我不能等到这个周末了。
　Slippers were waiting for you by the bed.　拖鞋就在床边。
　A letter is waiting for you on the table.　桌上有你一封信。
　Your tea is waiting for you, don't let it get cold.　茶准备好了，别让它凉了。
　The contract is waiting for your signature.　合同等你签字。
　He always has to be waited for.　他总是要人等他。
　The shepherd boy waited for his sheep to drink.　牧童等着羊喝水。
　He is waiting for something good to turn up.　他正期待着情况好转。
　They are waiting for the rain to stop.　他们在等雨停。
　You must wait for permission to enter.　你必须等到允许你进去时再进去。
2. 观望形势后再作决定，见风使舵 see which way the cat jumps; see how the wind blows; find out how the wind blows
　She waited for the cat to jump before she made up her mind.　她观望了形势以后才作出决定。
3. 〈非正〉推迟（用餐）直到（某人）到达 delay a meal until sb arrive
　Don't wait dinner for me, I may be late.　不要等我吃晚饭，我可能晚回来。
4. 等待别人死去以接替其工作 wait for a dead man so that instead of his/her job
　The only way you'll get to the top in this firm is by waiting for dead men's shoes.　你在公司中要获得高位的唯一办法是等别人死后去接班。
5. 〈非正〉 注意；当心；等一等 pay attention; wait for
　Ready, aim, wait for it!Fire!　准备，瞄准目标，注意！开火！
　"But what happened to the girl?""Wait for it, I'm coming to that part."　“那个女孩出什么事了?”“等着，我就要说这件事。”
　Victory will never come if we only wait for it.　如果我们光是等待，胜利永远不会到来。
 ♣ wait in　(v.+adv.)
　在家里等　wait for in home
　I've been waiting in all day for your television repairman to collect the set, but he didn't come as he promised.　我一整天呆在家里等着你们的电视修理人员来取机器，但修理人员失约未来。
 ♣ wait on¹　(v.+adv.)
1. 等待；继续等候 remain waiting; wait for continuously
　〔说明〕 wait on通常不用于进行体。
　They waited on at the scene of the accident until an ambulance arrived.　他们在出事地点等着，直到一辆救护车开到。
2. 〈非正〉稍候；停下来等 wait for after a while; stop and wait for
　〔说明〕 wait on通常用于祈使句，不用于进行体。
　Wait on, will you?I'm just coming!　请等我一下，好吗?我马上就来！
 ♣ wait on²　(v.+prep.)
1. 等着 remain waiting
　We wait on your reply to our letter.　我们等着你们的回信。
2. 〈非正〉伺候，服侍 act as a servant to fetch and carry things for
　〔说明〕 wait on通常不用于进行体。
　She waited on her sick mother day and night.　她日夜服侍生病的母亲。
　The old man expected his entire family to wait on him.　老人希望全家人都侍候他。
　They wait on guests very well in this hotel.　这家旅馆对客人招待得很好。
　The old worker remembers his own youth, when he was a poor servant waiting on the rich family.　老工人想起自己的青少年时代，当时他是一个伺候富人家庭的穷佣人。
　He expected his wife to wait on him hand and foot.　他指望他的妻子像佣人一样来伺候他。
　The gentleman had a valet to wait on him hand and foot.　这位绅士有一个男仆照顾他的衣食住行。
　Don't expect me to wait on you hand and foot, make your own breakfast.　不要样样都指望我伺候你，你自己做你的早饭。
　The old lady does not like to be waited on, because she thinks she is still capable of taking care of herself.　那位老太太认为自己还能自理，因而不喜欢别人服侍她。
3. 招待（顾客） serve a customer, a client
　She looked around for a salesman to wait on her.　她环顾四周，找售货员接待她。
　We were waited on by a pretty girl in a pink apron.　招待我们的是一位穿粉红色围裙的漂亮姑娘。
4. 〈正〉拜访 make a formal call on; pay a visit to
　Anna waited on the senator with a letter of introduction.　安娜带了介绍信拜访那位参议员。
5. 随…而产生，产生于，是…的结果 result from; be a consequence of
　Success waits on hard work.　成功来自勤奋。
　May success wait on your efforts.　愿你的努力获得成功。
　Ruin will wait on such conduct.　这样的行为将导致毁灭。
　His whole future waits on the results of the examinations.　考试的结果关系着他整个的前途。
6. 在餐馆侍候顾客 serve customers in the restaurant
　The only job he could get was waiting on table, but it was better than nothing.　他唯一可以找到的工作便是在饭馆里当招待，不过这总比没工作强。
 ♣ wait out　(v.+adv.)
1. 在外面等待 remain outside
　Come in, please. Don't wait out in the rain.　请进来，别在外面雨里等。
2. 以等待来击败 defeat by waiting
　The enemy are still advancing, but we can wait them out in this valley.　敌军仍在前进，不过我们可以在这个山谷里以逸待劳把他们拖垮。
3. 安静而耐心地等待…结束 await calmly and patiently the end of
　We waited out the storm all night, and made our way into the harbour in the morning.　我们等了一夜，暴风雨终于过去了，我们早晨进了港。
 ♣ wait up　(v.+adv.)
1. 不去睡觉 not go to bed
　I will probably come home after midnight, so don't bother to wait up.　我可能午夜过后回家，别等着我。
　The parents waited up till their daughter came back.　父母不睡一直等到他们的女儿回来。
2. 停下来等别人赶上 stop and wait for sb to catch up
　〔说明〕 wait up作此解时通常不用于进行体。
　The young man waited up.　年轻人停下来等后面的人赶上来。
　Wait up, I shan't be long.　等我一下，不会很久。
 ♣ wait up for　(v.+adv.+prep.)
1. 不去睡觉为（某人）等门 not go to bed until sb comes home
　I'll be very late tonight, so don't wait up for me.　今晚我要很晚才回来，所以不要为我等门了。
　My parents are used to my coming back late. They never waited up for me.　我父母已习惯我晚回家。他们从不等我回来才睡觉。
　She would wait up for her son, sometimes until midnight.　她总是熬夜等儿子，有时一直等到午夜。
　John told his parents not to wait up for him. He might stay with his uncle.　约翰叫他的父母先睡，不要等他，他可能在他的叔父家过夜。
2. 等候；停下等 wait for; stop and wait for
　Hadn't we better wait up for the slower ones?　我们停下来等等走得慢的人不好吗?
　He waited up for telephone calls.　他等候电话。

 ♣ wait for, expect
　参见expect条。
 ♣ wait, await
　参见await条。

1. 他说他不能等到星期一。
　［误］ He said he couldn't wait to Monday.
　［正］ He said he couldn't wait till Monday.
　［析］ 表示“等到某一时刻”，应该用until或till，不用to.
2. 我在门口等你。
　［误］ I'll wait you at the gate.
　［正］ I'll wait for you at the gate.
　［析］ 表示“等某人”时， wait用作不及物动词，其后须加介词for.
3. 我正等着某人告诉我发生了什么事。
　［误］ I'm waiting that someone tells me what happened.
　［正］ I'm waiting for someone to tell me what happened.
　［析］ wait后面不可以接that从句，表示“等某人做某事”可以说wait for sb to do sth.
4. 她从早到晚服侍她丈夫。
　［误］ She waits her husband on from morning till night.
　［正］ She waits on her husband from morning till night.
　［析］ wait作“服侍”“伺候”“招待”解时，用wait on〔upon〕 sb形式。其中on是介词，不是副词，宾语只能放在on之后。
5. 我等候你的回音。
　［误］ I shall wait hearing from you.
　［正］ I shall wait to hear from you.
　赫克没有再等着听下去。
　［误］ Huch didn't wait hearing more.
　［正］ Huch didn't wait to hear more.
　［析］ wait后可接动词不定式（短语）作目的状语，不接动名词（短语）。
6. 侍候人吃饭的事她永远也学不会。
　［误］ She will never learn to wait at the table.
　［正］ She will never learn to wait at table.
　［析］ 表示“侍候人吃饭”，可以说wait at table，这是英式英语，美式英语中则说wait on table, table前都不加冠词。
7. 他在等待机会。
　［误］ He is waiting for his opportunity.
　［正］ He is waiting his opportunity.
　［析］ wait表示“等待”，接chance, opportunity等抽象名词作宾语时一般用作及物动词。
8. 我要等照片洗好。
　［误］ I'll wait for the photos be ready.
　［正］ I'll wait for the photos to be ready.
　［析］ wait for后跟含to的不定式短语的复合宾语， to不可省略。

S 等待，等待的时间 act or time of waiting

　wait　可以指等待的时间，也可以指“等”的动作。

　have a long ～　长时间的等待
　four-hour ～　四小时的等待
　lie in ～ for　埋伏着等待

　We had a long wait for the bus.　我们等汽车等了很长时间。
　I don't like these long waits.　我不喜欢这么长时间地等待下去。
　He had a tiresome wait.　他等得很厌倦了。
　I was prepared for a wait.　我有所准备要等候一阵。

 ♣ lie in wait
　隐蔽静候以出人不意　be hidden waiting to surprise sb
　The army lay in wait in the forest.　部队埋伏在树林里。
　The bandits were lying in wait for the travellers.　土匪埋伏着等待路人。
　The murderer was lying in wait for his victim.　凶手埋伏着准备下手。

　［同义词］ v. abide, linger, remain, stay n. delay, pause, postponement
　［词源］　中古英语waiten（注视，守候）