Meaning
An apology for making someone wait, acknowledging inconvenience caused by delayed service.
Primary Function
Apology for delay
Communicative Purpose
To acknowledge the cause of the delay and express regret to the listener.
Pattern
Sorry to keep; waiting.
Core Structure
Sorry to keep; waiting.
Função primária
Apology for delay
Propósito comunicativo
To acknowledge the cause of the delay and express regret to the listener.
Situações de gatilho
When arriving late after a long queue or waiting period (e.g., doctor’s office, airport check‑in).
Contextos
Professional settings, customer service interactions, formal communications; used in both personal and business contexts.
Padrão
Sorry to keep; waiting.
Estrutura central
Sorry to keep; waiting.
Slots de substituição
you → second-person pronoun or name (e.g., 'John', 'you all')
Colocados típicos
- you
- waiting
- sorry
Substituições comuns
- Sorry for the wait
- Apologies for the delay
Erros comuns
'Sorry to make you wait' is possible but not idiomatic; the fixed expression must use 'keep'.
Similar / contraste
Thanks for your patience; I appreciate your understanding while we resolve this issue.
Interferências
English speakers may mistakenly insert a verb-ing form (e.g., 'keeping'), which changes meaning and sounds unnatural.
Família do chunk
- Delay apologies: Sorry for the delay
- Thanks for holding
- My apologies for the wait
Nuance
Conveys courteous professionalism, emphasizing that the speaker values the listener’s time despite the cause of delay.
Efeito pragmático
Mitigates negative perception of lateness or waiting by framing it as an unavoidable inconvenience rather than personal fault.
Dica de memória
sorry wait
Nota
This chunk is a polite and professional way to apologize for delays, often used in service settings. It is essential for maintaining good customer relations.
Upgrade path
Sorry I'm late → Sorry to keep you waiting → My apologies for the wait
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