for a mo

9.8

For a short time

idiom

: un momento

Could you watch my bag for a mo while I use the restroom?

Examples

Please hold on for a mo while I check.
Can you wait for a mo?
He’ll be with you for a mo before heading off to the meeting.
I stepped outside for a mo to get some fresh air.
Could you watch my bag for a mo while I use the restroom?
He’ll be with you for a mo before heading off to the meeting.
I stepped outside for a mo to get some fresh air.

Synonyms

for the moment

vsfor a mo

189 3.4

For a short time that is not meant to last

is briefer and means a very short moment

Antonyms

permanently

218 2.9

Stays the same for all time

How Long

a long time

∞ 1.0

for the moment

189 3.4

for a while

∞ 1.0

for a mo

9.8

fleetingly

4 5.5

Surface Forms

for a mo main

Morphology

for + a + mo

The meaning is directly built from 'for' (indicating duration) + 'a' (indefinite article) + 'mo' (short for 'moment'), so a learner who knows 'mo' will readily infer 'for a short time'. Although 'mo' is informal/slang for 'moment', the compositional pattern is regular and cross-linguistically common, making the expression immediately understandable to learners who know the constituents.

Etymology

For a mo comes from people shortening the word moment in quick, casual speech, so mo is a clipped form of moment. That's why for a mo means 'for a short time'.