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Glite Dictionary
last-minute sitter

last-minute sitter

4.2
A person who is arranged to care for children shortly before the care is needed
  • noun
translation icon : canguro de última hora
  • After her meeting ran late, she had to find a last-minute sitter online.

Examples

  • They were grateful when their neighbor agreed to be a last-minute sitter.

  • It's not always easy to trust a last-minute sitter with your kids.

  • We found a last-minute sitter for the kids.

  • Can you recommend a last-minute sitter?

  • She quickly booked a last-minute sitter when her plans changed unexpectedly.

  • Finding a reliable last-minute sitter can be challenging during the holidays.

  • They were relieved to have a last-minute sitter available on such short notice.

Synonyms

babysitter
vslast-minute sitter
234 1.0

A person who looks after children while their parents are away

is arranged quickly just before needed in urgent situations
sitter
vslast-minute sitter
70 1.6

A person who looks after children at home while their parents are out

is arranged quickly just before needed and often in emergencies
baby-sitter
vslast-minute sitter
9 1.2

A person parents pay to look after children when they are away

is arranged quickly just before needed in urgent situations
babyminder
vslast-minute sitter
  • UK
7.1

A person who looks after babies in their own home while parents work

is arranged quickly and usually for urgent short term care
baby minder
vslast-minute sitter
  • UK
3.3

A person who looks after babies in their home while their parents work

is arranged quickly and usually for urgent short term care

Surface Forms

last-minute sitter singular
last-minute sitters plural

Morphology

last-minute + sitter

The meaning is directly compositional: 'last-minute' (done very close to a deadline) combined with 'sitter' (someone who looks after children) yields a babysitter arranged shortly before they are needed. This productive compounding pattern is common in English and cross‑linguistically, so a B1 learner who knows the parts can reliably infer the meaning.

Etymology

The phrase last-minute sitter combines last-minute, meaning 'very near the time', and sitter, meaning 'a person who looks after children'. Imagine a neighbour rushing in at the last moment to watch the kids, and that's why it means 'a babysitter arranged shortly before they are needed'.