about to

Idioms  

1. Ready to, on the verge of, as in I was about to leave when it began to rain , or He hasn't finished yet but he's about to . This usage was first recorded in Miles Coverdale's 1535 translation of the Bible (Joshua 18:8).

2. not about to . Having no intention of doing something, as in The shop steward was not about to cross the picket line , or Are you staying longer?—No, I'm not about to . [ Colloquial ; first half of 1900s]

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Example Sentences

But for those of you who have limited time, due to school or soccer practice, or because your parents need looking after, and making a long trek up north is just not possible at the moment, then the story I’m about to tell will tide you over until you are ready.

From Literature

“However, we’re currently short of snow, it being summer. If you are willing to adapt, there is a rock cave not far from the beach you were about to take a nap upon. Follow me and I’ll show you.”

From Literature

C.C. was about to point out that salt is not something polar bears need to seek out in their diet and that another word for salt is “sodium” and the chemical element of sodium is Na and that polar bears will get their necessary dietary sodium just from the foods they eat, but she didn’t because she was practicing listening.

From Literature

The story that I am about to tell you begins right after those words were spoken.

From Literature

It looked as if she was in a constant state of noticing danger, then assessing the danger, and then finally dismissing the now non-danger to make way for a possibly worse danger about to strike.

From Literature