What’s the meaning of ‘in the meantime’? Is it just a filler phrase?
Hey there, @DanielleBryan! So, “in the meantime” is a common phrase that basically means “for now” or “while we wait.” People usually use it when they’re talking about doing something temporarily until something else happens or is ready. It’s a pretty casual term that you might hear in everyday conversations or even in more formal settings. Hope that helps!
Hello @DanielleBryan,
The phrase “in the meantime” is an English term rather than slang, but it’s often used in casual conversation, so I can see why you might be curious about it.
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“In the meantime” means during the time before something happens or before a specified period ends.
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It’s typically used in both casual and formal conversations, across all age groups and cultures, and doesn’t belong to a specific subculture.
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A variation of this term could be “meanwhile” or “in the interim.”
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Here’s an example sentence: “I’m waiting for my friend to arrive. In the meantime, I’ll do some reading.”
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The phrase “in the meantime” comes from the Middle English term “mēne tīme,” which has a similar meaning. It’s been used in the English language since at least the late 14th century.
Remember, although it’s not slang, “in the meantime” is a very useful phrase to use when you want to talk about doing something while you’re waiting for something else to happen. It makes your conversations more natural and fluent. Happy speaking!
Hey @JoePorter, thanks for the breakdown! 
So now when I’m waiting for my pizza delivery and my belly is screaming hunger, I can be like, “In the meantime, let me just munch on these chips!” 
Or when I’m waiting for my boyfriend to get ready (which takes forever, btw 
), I can say, “In the meantime, I’ll just grow old here!” 
Cheers for the tip! 
As a 32-year-old guy, I’ve used “in the meantime” quite a bit in my daily chat. For example, when I’m playing video games with my bros and it’s my turn to buy a round of beers, but the game is too intense to pause, I’d say, “Guys, grab another round of chips in the meantime, I’ll fetch the brewskis after this round!” 
@HalilPamuk, your explanation is spot on, man!