Heard on The Judges: _for a minute_ = "over a long period of time," etc.

[Robin Hamilton]

>> or "a while" as understatement for "forever", judging from these
>> contexts.
>
> or "forever" as an overstatement for "a while."
>
> Youneverknow.
>
> --
> -Wilson

        Luerd, thu clepedest me
        And I noght ne answered thee
        Bot wordes sleepy and slow,
        "Thole a little, thole yet."
        But 'yet and yet' is endless,
        And 'thole a little' a long way is.

Augustine, in _The Confessions_, anonymous medieval translation.

Robin

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