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待ったをかける (まったをかける) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Meanings 1
expression, ichidan verb
put a stop to ; call a halt to ; block
Idiomatic expression meaning to intervene and stop something from proceeding, often used when someone objects to a plan, decision, or action. Conveys a sense of 'wait a moment' or 'hold on'.
挑ちょう
戦せん
に
、
友ゆう
人じん
が
待ま
っ
た
を
かけ
た
。
His friend called a halt to his reckless challenge.
Written forms 待ま ったをかける
Standard kanji-kana spelling for this idiomatic expression.
待ま ったを 掛か ける
Variant using 掛ける; less common but still seen.
Similar words ストップをかける More direct and often physical, like stopping a machine or vehicle, while 待ったをかける is more about objecting or intervening in a process or decision.
中ちゅう 止し する Means to cancel or discontinue something already in progress; 待ったをかける implies a temporary halt or objection, not necessarily permanent cancellation.
Etymology From the sumo referee's cry 待った (matta, 'wait!') used to stop a bout, combined with をかける (o kakeru, 'to apply'). The phrase literally means 'to call a wait' and figuratively means to halt or object to something.
