For a long time when our son asked when we would get some place or when his food would come at a restaurant or when he would start to like school, my partner would answer with “soon, sweetie”.  About 18 months ago, at age 5-and1/2, he said in a very adult voice:

“Mommy, ‘soon‘ is not an answer because it doesn’t mean anything.”

I think of this every time someone says soon lenders will start lending again.  Soon, the job cuts will abate. Soon, I will get to retire.

Soon, soon, soon