wait

esperar

Quedarse en un lugar o dejar pasar el tiempo hasta que llegue alguien o suceda algo.

En inglés sencillo: To stay somewhere or let time pass until someone arrives or something happens.

• Please wait here.
• I waited for Anna outside the shop.
• How long have you been waiting?

Cómo se usa: wait for someone/something (We waited for the bus.); wait until… (Wait until the light turns green.); wait to do something (They waited to hear the result.)

Expresiones frecuentes: wait for someone, wait a minute, wait outside, wait patiently

servir mesas, atender mesas

Tomar los pedidos de los clientes y llevarles comida y bebida en un restaurante.

En inglés sencillo: To take customers' orders and bring them food and drinks in a restaurant.

• He waits tables at weekends.
• I waited on a large family last night.
• She earned good tips waiting tables.

Cómo se usa: wait on someone (A friendly server waited on us.); wait tables (She waits tables at a small cafe.)

Sinónimos: serve

Expresiones frecuentes: wait tables, wait on someone, wait at tables

espera

El tiempo que pasa hasta que llega alguien o sucede algo.

En inglés sencillo: A period of time before someone arrives or something happens.

• There was a long wait.
• After a short wait, the doctor called me in.
• Was the meal worth the wait?

Cómo se usa: a wait for someone/something (We faced a long wait for the next train.)

Sinónimos: delay

Expresiones frecuentes: long wait, short wait, wait for something

emboscada, acecho

Una posición oculta desde la que se espera sorprender o atacar a alguien cuando se acerque.

En inglés sencillo: A hidden position taken to surprise or attack someone when they come near.

• The hunters lay in wait.
• A cat was lying in wait for a mouse.
• Armed men lay in wait beside the narrow road.

Cómo se usa: lie in wait for someone/something (The soldiers lay in wait for the enemy patrol.)

Sinónimos: ambush

Expresiones frecuentes: lie in wait, in wait for someone

espera, un momento

Se dice para pedir a alguien que pare un momento mientras compruebas, explicas o entiendes algo.

En inglés sencillo: Used to tell someone to pause so you can check, explain, or understand something.

• Wait! What did you say?
• Wait a minute! I thought we were leaving tomorrow.
• Wait, do you mean you already know her?

Sinónimos: hold on, hang on

Expresiones frecuentes: wait a minute, wait a second, wait just a moment