From “killing time” to “waiting for the fat lady to sing,” each idiom carries a story of anticipation and patience.
So, buckle up, and let’s embark on this journey through the art of waiting.
Idioms for Waiting
Kill Time
Meaning: To pass the time with something to do.
In a Sentence: She decided to kill time at the airport by reading a gripping novel.
Bide One’s Time
Meaning: To wait patiently for the right opportunity.
In a Sentence: He knew success would come if he could bide his time and seize the perfect moment.
Wait with Bated Breath
Meaning: To wait anxiously or eagerly.
In a Sentence: The fans waited with bated breath for the final score of the championship game.
Twiddle One’s Thumbs
Meaning: To wait idly or impatiently.
In a Sentence: As the clock ticked away, she couldn’t help but twiddle her thumbs, nervous about the interview.
Wait on Tenterhooks
Meaning: To wait anxiously or nervously.
In a Sentence: The students were waiting on tenterhooks for the exam results.
Wait in the Wings
Meaning: To wait to come on stage or enter a situation.
In a Sentence: The understudy patiently waited in the wings for her chance to shine on the theater stage.
Wait for the Other Shoe to Drop
Meaning: To wait for the next event or outcome.
In a Sentence: After the shocking revelation, everyone was waiting for the other shoe to drop in the scandal.
Wait on Hand and Foot
Meaning: To wait attentively and serve someone.
In a Sentence: The dedicated butler waited on hand and foot, ensuring the guests had everything they needed.
Wait with Open Arms
Meaning: To welcome someone eagerly.
In a Sentence: The family waited with open arms for their loved ones to arrive for the holidays.
Wait in Vain
Meaning: To wait without success.
In a Sentence: She realized she had been waiting in vain for the package that got lost in transit.
Wait for Your Ship to Come In
Meaning: To wait for something good to happen to you.
In a Sentence: Despite setbacks, he kept waiting for his ship to come in, believing in better days.
Wait for the Dust to Settle
Meaning: To wait for things to become clear.
In a Sentence: In times of uncertainty, it’s wise to wait for the dust to settle before making decisions.
Wait for the Green Light
Meaning: To wait for permission or approval to proceed.
In a Sentence: The project team eagerly waited for the green light from the manager to launch their innovative idea.
Wait for the Paint to Dry
Meaning: To wait for something to finish or be completed.
In a Sentence: He advised her to be patient and wait for the paint to dry before touching the freshly painted wall.
Wait on (Someone)
Meaning: To wait for someone to make a move or a decision.
In a Sentence: The investors had to wait on the CEO before finalizing the business strategy.
Wait for the Clock to Strike
Meaning: To wait for a specific time to arrive.
In a Sentence: As the clock ticked, they waited for the midnight hour to celebrate the New Year.
Wait in Line
Meaning: To wait in a queue for one’s turn.
In a Sentence: They patiently waited in line for tickets to the highly anticipated concert.
Wait on (Something)
Meaning: To wait for something to happen.
In a Sentence: The farmers anxiously waited on rainfall to nourish their crops during the dry spell.
Wait on Pins and Needles
Meaning: To feel anxious while waiting.
In a Sentence: She was waiting on pins and needles for the results of her college application.
Wait with Baited Breath
Meaning: To wait eagerly or anxiously.
In a Sentence: The entire town waited with baited breath as the spaceship touched down for the first time.
Wait Your Turn
Meaning: To wait patiently until it’s one’s turn.
In a Sentence: In a crowded room, it’s essential to wait your turn and not cut in line.
Wait for the Storm to Pass
Meaning: To wait for a difficult situation to end.
In a Sentence: During tough times, it’s crucial to stay strong and wait for the storm to pass.
Wait for the Right Moment
Meaning: To wait for an opportune time to take action.
In a Sentence: He chose to wait for the right moment to propose, making it unforgettable.
Wait for the Writing on the Wall
Meaning: To see an impending event that is not welcomed.
In a Sentence: Ignoring the warnings was like refusing to wait for the writing on the wall.
Wait for the Smoke to Clear
Meaning: To wait for a situation to become clear.
In a Sentence: Amidst the confusion, they decided to wait for the smoke to clear before making decisions.
Wait for the Cat to Jump
Meaning: To wait for an unpredictable event.
In a Sentence: Life is full of surprises; sometimes, you just have to wait for the cat to jump.
Wait for the Fat Lady to Sing
Meaning: To wait until the end of something before making a judgment.
In a Sentence: They knew the game wasn’t over until the last minute; it was a classic case of waiting for the fat lady to sing.
Wait for the Grass to Grow Under Your Feet
Meaning: To wait too long before taking action.
In a Sentence: Don’t wait for the grass to grow under your feet – seize the opportunity when it arises.
Wait for the Water to Boil
Meaning: To wait for something to happen that may take time.
In a Sentence: In a world of instant gratification, some things still require patience, like waiting for the water to boil.
Wait for the Rug to Be Pulled From Under You
Meaning: To wait for an unexpected twist of events.
In a Sentence: Life is unpredictable; sometimes, you have to be ready for the rug to be pulled from under you.
Summary
| Idiom | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Kill Time | To pass the time with something to do |
| Bide One’s Time | To wait patiently for the right opportunity |
| Wait with Bated Breath | To wait anxiously or eagerly |
| Twiddle One’s Thumbs | To wait idly or impatiently |
| Wait on Tenterhooks | To wait anxiously or nervously |
| Wait in the Wings | To wait to come on stage or enter a situation |
| Wait for the Other Shoe to Drop | To wait for the next event or outcome |
| Wait on Hand and Foot | To wait attentively and serve someone |
| Wait with Open Arms | To welcome someone eagerly |
| Wait in Vain | To wait without success |
| Wait for Your Ship to Come In | To wait for something good to happen to you |
| Wait for the Dust to Settle | To wait for things to become clear |
| Wait for the Green Light | To wait for permission or approval to proceed |
| Wait for the Paint to Dry | To wait for something to finish or be completed |
| Wait on (Someone) | To wait for someone to make a move or a decision |
| Wait for the Clock to Strike | To wait for a specific time to arrive |
| Wait in Line | To wait in a queue for one’s turn |
| Wait on (Something) | To wait for something to happen |
| Wait on Pins and Needles | To feel anxious while waiting |
| Wait with Baited Breath | To wait eagerly or anxiously |
| Wait Your Turn | To wait patiently until it’s one’s turn |
| Wait for the Storm to Pass | To wait for a difficult situation to end |
| Wait for the Right Moment | To wait for an opportune time to take action |
| Wait for the Writing on the Wall | To see an impending event that is not welcomed |
| Wait for the Smoke to Clear | To wait for a situation to become clear |
| Wait for the Cat to Jump | To wait for an unpredictable event |
| Wait for the Fat Lady to Sing | To wait until the end of something before making a judgment |
| Wait for the Grass to Grow Under Your Feet | To wait too long before taking action |
| Wait for the Water to Boil | To wait for something to happen that may take time |
| Wait for the Rug to Be Pulled From Under You | To wait for an unexpected twist of events |
Conclusion
Congratulations! You’ve just journeyed through the myriad idioms for waiting, each painting a picture of patience and anticipation. In the realm of waiting, we find a rich tapestry of expressions that capture the essence of human experience.