Interjections of Requesting and Ordering · Interjections — English Vocabulary

used to request silence or quietness, typically made by hissing through closed lips

"Shh! Be quiet in the library."

"Shh! Be quiet in the library because other people are trying to read their books."

used to demand or request silence or quietness

"Hush! The baby is sleeping now."

"Hush! The baby is sleeping now. Please do not make any loud noises at all."

used to alert someone of potential danger or to prevent them from engaging in inappropriate behavior

"Ah, ah, ah! Do not touch that."

"Ah, ah, ah! Do not touch that. It is very hot, and you will burn your fingers."

used to rouse someone from sleep or to gently urge them to wake up

"Wakey-wakey! Time to get up now."

"Wakey-wakey! Time to get up now. You do not want to be late for school."

used to advise someone to calm down, moderate their behavior, or proceed with caution

"Steady on! Do not go too fast."

"Steady on! Do not go too fast because you might fall and hurt yourself badly."

used as a command to instruct soldiers or individuals to prepare their weapons for use

"Lock and load! Prepare your weapons."

"Lock and load! Prepare your weapons because we are going into battle very soon."

used as a directive or command to instruct a person or group to stand at the forefront and in the central position, often to receive instructions or be recognized

"Front and center! Come stand here, please."

"Front and center! Come stand here, please, because I need to talk to you."

used to tell someone to refrain from touching or interfering with something or someone

"Hands off! Do not touch my things."

"Hands off! Do not touch my things because they are very personal and private to me."

used in situations where someone wants others to raise their hands as a form of surrender or compliance

"Hands up! Put them in the air."

"Hands up! Put them in the air and do not make any sudden moves, please."

used to instruct people to return to the state they were in before being interrupted or before a command was given

"As you were. Continue what you are doing."

"As you were. Continue what you were doing. Do not let me interrupt your work."

used to relax or ease the stance or posture of individuals who are standing at attention

"At ease, soldiers. Relax now."

"At ease, soldiers. Relax now because the danger has passed, and we are safe."

used to ask someone to repeat what they said when it wasn't heard or understood

"'Class is at nine.' — 'Come again?'"

"'The board has decided to restructure the entire department.' — 'Come again? When was this decision made?'"

used to politely request someone to repeat what they said

"Pardon. I did not hear you well."

"Pardon. I did not hear you well. Can you please repeat what you just said to me?"

used to request or indicate a brief delay

"Just a minute. I will be right there."

"Just a minute. I will be right there. Please wait for me and do not leave."

used to request a very brief pause or delay, often to attend to something immediately before responding to a request or continuing a conversation

"Just a moment. Wait for me, please."

"Just a moment. Wait for me, please. I need to grab my coat and keys."

used to request a brief pause or delay, often to attend to something immediately before responding to a request or continuing a conversation

"One moment. I need to think."

"One moment. I need to think about this before I give you my final answer."

used to command or request quietness or the absence of sound in a particular situation

"Silence in the court, please, everyone!"

"Silence in the court, please, everyone! The judge is about to speak right now."

used to command or request silence or a reduction in noise levels

"Quiet! Do not make any noise."

"Quiet! Do not make any noise because the teacher is explaining the lesson to us."

used colloquially to encourage people to smile or pose for a photograph

"Cheese! Say cheese for the photo."

"Cheese! Say cheese for the photo. Smile, everyone, and look at the camera, please."

used in filmmaking and video production to signal the cessation of filming or recording

"Cut! Stop the scene right now."

"Cut! Stop the scene right now. The director is not happy with this take at all."

used as a command to halt or stop someone or something immediately

"Freeze! Do not move at all."

"Freeze! Do not move at all because the police have you surrounded right now."

used as a command to commence an action, particularly in the context of shooting or initiating a weapon

"Fire! Shoot the gun now."

"Fire! Shoot the gun now and aim carefully at the target down the range."

used as an urgent call to action, signaling that everyone's assistance, involvement, or participation is needed

"All hands on deck! Everyone help now!"

"All hands on deck! Everyone help now because we have an emergency situation here."

used to express an urgent need for assistance or support

"Help! Someone, please call the police!"

"Help! Someone, please call the police because there is a stranger trying to break into my house."