about to
Close to; ready to. Used with an infinitive.
We were about to leave when the snow began.
I haven't gone yet, but I'm about to.
Having a wish or plan to. Used with an infinitive in negative sentences.
Freddy wasn't about to give me any of his ice-cream cone.
"Will she come with us?" asked Bill. "She's not about to," answered Mary.
be about to do something
To be at the moment of doing something, to be ready
This idiom is often used with the adverb just.
This idiom is often used with the adverb just.
I was just about to leave when you telephoned.
Oh, hi, John. We're just about to eat dinner.
We were about to leave the house when the phone rang.
I’m sorry that I broke in. What were you about to say?