just about to
I was just about to call you when you texted.
The action was imminent but hadn't happened yet.
very close to doing something imminently
She was just about to leave when the phone rang.
The departure was imminent but interrupted.
We're just about to start the meeting.
The meeting is about to begin very soon.
Emphasizes immediacy without specifying exact timing. Often used to describe actions that are prevented by another event.
Collocations
Antonyms
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Timing Clarity
Use 'just about to' to emphasize that an action was imminent but interrupted. Pair with 'when' to show interruption: 'I was just about to eat when the doorbell rang.'
Gold Rule
Tense Consistency
Always use 'just about to' with a verb in the base form (infinitive without 'to'). Never add 'to' after 'about to': 'just about to go' (correct), 'just about to to go' (incorrect).
Word Origin
The phrase combines 'just' (meaning 'exactly' or 'very recently') with 'about to' (indicating proximity in time). 'About' derives from Old English 'on būtan' (on the outside of), evolving to mean 'near in time or position'. The construction emerged in Middle English as a temporal expression.
Usage Notes
Common in spoken English to set up a contrast (e.g., 'I was just about to... when...'). Avoid using with past perfect tense ('had just about to' is incorrect).