Meaning of "get under way"

[Sophie]

Hello everybody!
There is a sentence like this in one of my books:
" Will the concert start soon? - It should get under way any minute now."
I've known that "get under way" means to start, to set off.
But why in this sentence, it's accompanied with "any minute". It seems to be unsuitable. What do you think about it?
_________________
On earth there is nothing great but man, in man there is nothing great but mind.

[Ralf]

It's quite a common phrase; a colloquial expression for saying 'The concert shall commence very soon'.
_________________
Test of English as a Foreign Language
TOEFL Preparation & TOEFL Vocabulary
Learn more: How to Become an English Teacher

[Pamela]

Hi sophie,

Your sentence is fine.
any minute/moment(now)=momently.

[Yankee]

Hi Pamela

I doubt that you would find many Americans using 'momently', and if you did, it would probably be fairly literary.

In AmE, we frequently use 'momentarily' to mean 'very soon' -- especially in spoken English.
.
_________________
"Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power." ~ Abraham Lincoln

[Stew.t.]

Hi

in BrE "any minute now" may be said without now. Also in BrE momentarily strikes me as old fashioned as well.
_________________
Please meet Stewart Tunncilff

[Yankee]

Hi Stew

What about 'momently' in BE? I don't think I've ever actually heard anyone use that word over here.
.
_________________
"Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power." ~ Abraham Lincoln

[Pamela]

[Stew.t.]

Hi Amy

You are right as ever, momently is a new coinage.
_________________
Please meet Stewart Tunncilff

[Alan]

Hi,

'Momentarily' to me means for the moment in the sense of 'not for long' as in: She was momentarily lost for words when they gave her first prize.

Alan
_________________
English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Present Simple

[Sophie]

Firstly, thank you everybody for answering my question.
In my dictionary, "momentarily" have both meanings: "not for long" and "very soon". What do you think about it?
_________________
On earth there is nothing great but man, in man there is nothing great but mind.

[Yankee]

[MrPedantic]

Interestingly, "momently" and "momentarily" both date from the 17th century; the latter's sense of "instantly" is obsolete in BrE, but may well return under pressure from AmE.

MrP

[Yankee]

[Yankee]

That's an interesting little tidbit of information, MrP.

The following site lists 'momentarily' as an example of a difference between BE and AmE. Interestingly, the entry comes directly after 'molly-coddled'. :lol:
http://english2american.com/dictionary/m.html
.
_________________
"Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power." ~ Abraham Lincoln

[MrPedantic]

Hello Amy,