wait for a table

Meaning

This phrase means to stand or sit in a restaurant's entrance or waiting area until an empty table is ready for you. This usually happens when a restaurant is very busy and you do not have a reservation.

Examples

• The restaurant was so busy that we had to wait for a table for thirty minutes.

  The restaurant was so busy that we had to wait for a table for thirty minutes.

• I don't like to wait for a table, so I always make a reservation.

  I don't like to wait for a table, so I always make a reservation.

• We can grab a drink at the bar while we wait for a table.

  We can grab a drink at the bar while we wait for a table.

• Is it normal to wait for a table at this diner on Friday nights?

  Is it normal to wait for a table at this diner on Friday nights?

• They had to wait for a table because they didn't call ahead.

  They had to wait for a table because they didn't call ahead.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ We had to wait a table for an hour.

  ✓ We had to wait for a table for an hour.

  You must use the preposition 'for' after 'wait' when you are waiting for an object or event. To 'wait tables' (without 'for') means to work as a waiter.

• ✗ There are many people waiting a desk in the restaurant.

  ✓ There are many people waiting for a table in the restaurant.

  In restaurants, we always use the word 'table' to refer to the dining area where customers sit, not 'desk'.

Related Expressions

Practice

• The restaurant is very popular, so we might have to ___.

  💡 Wait until a dining spot becomes free.

  Show answer

  wait for a table

• I don't want to ___ tonight; let's go somewhere less crowded.

  💡 Spend time waiting to be seated in a restaurant.

  Show answer

  wait for a table