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indefinite wait

[/ˌɪndɪˈfɪnɪt weɪt/]
nounpl: indefinite waits
espera indefinida
1. A period of waiting with no specified end time or duration
The flight was delayed, leaving passengers in an indefinite wait at the airport.
O voo foi atrasado, deixando os passageiros em uma espera indefinida no aeroporto.
2. A state of uncertainty regarding when something will happen or be resolved
The project has been put on indefinite wait pending budget approval.
O projeto foi colocado em espera indefinida aguardando aprovação do orçamento.
NYC Slang
left in limbo
Synonyms
open-ended waituncertain delayunspecified waitlimboholding pattern
Antonyms
definite waitscheduled waittemporary holdtimed delay

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
espera indefinida
Standard usage in Brazilian Portuguese
Rio de Janeiro
espera sem fim
Colloquial variation meaning 'endless wait'
São Paulo
espera indefinida
Standard usage in business and formal contexts
Portugal
espera indeterminada
More formal alternative used in European Portuguese

Related Idioms & Phrases

on indefinite hold
stuck in limbo
up in the air
in a state of suspension
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