hot minute

== English == === Etymology === (This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.) === Noun === hot minute (plural hot minutes) (informal, idiomatic) A long period of time. (informal, idiomatic) An extremely short period of time; a moment. Synonym: red-hot minute (informal, idiomatic) An unspecified period of time; a while. ==== Usage notes ==== The sense of long time apparently postdates the sense of short time by several years. The confusion that is generated by these antonymous meanings is slightly mitigated by the fact that a hot minute is generally used in situations where the specific amount of time is irrelevant. === References === “hot minute”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.