waiting on

[SaccharineDream]

I used to think it meant serving tables, restaurant staff, etc.

Now it means 'waiting for' as in waiting for a letter, or a phone call.
I wonder how it evolved? Is it regional or just a new development?

It’s northern. We wait on a letter, we don’t wait for a letter.

My grandma said ‘waiting on’ to mean being a waitress/waiter AND instead of ‘waiting for’- she was from the north east.

Definitely not a new thing, but maybe regional? I never hear anyone in London use those expressions.

i lived in lancs for a while and never heard it.
only seen it online though.