Question

what happened to the house in the meantime​

Answer 1

Answer:

The mean in meantime has nothing to with malice; it's related to mean in the sense of “average,” from a French and Latin root for “middle,” making meantime literally a kind of “in-between time.”

Answer 2

Answer:

I want to buy a car, I don't have enough money but in 3 months I will, so for the meantime I'm taking the bus. It would not, however be incorrect to say in the meantime. Generally "in the meantime" is used when you are waiting for something to happen, so you do something else until the other thing or person is ready.