Have you found yourself needing to “hold your horses” in a situation that tested your limits? Whether you’re waiting on a slow network or a big promotion, patience can feel like a rare virtue. Mastering idioms for patience gives you the perfect way to express this challenge.
This article will help you go beyond simple words, teaching you phrases that capture the quiet strength of waiting for the right moment.
Best Idioms for Patience
1. Patience Is the Companion of Wisdom
Meaning: Patience leads to wiser decisions and understanding.
In a Sentence:
She learned that patience is the companion of wisdom in tough times.
Patience is the companion of wisdom, guiding her choices.
Other Ways to Say: Patience breeds wisdom, Calmness leads to insight, Steadiness brings understanding
2. Everything Comes to Him Who Waits
Meaning: Good things happen to those who are patient.
In a Sentence:
He waited for the right moment, proving that everything comes to him who waits.
Everything comes to him who waits, so she stayed patient.
Other Ways to Say: Good things come to the patient, Wait and win, Patience pays off
3. Lose Patience
Meaning: To become frustrated and no longer able to wait calmly.
In a Sentence:
She lost patience with the slow progress of the project.
He’s about to lose patience with the delays.
Other Ways to Say: Run out of patience, Get frustrated, Lose calm
4. The Patience of a Saint
Meaning: Extraordinary patience, like that of a saintly figure.
In a Sentence:
Dealing with the chaos took the patience of a saint.
She showed the patience of a saint with the kids.
Other Ways to Say: Endless patience, Saintly calm, Remarkable restraint
5. Have Patience. All Things Are Difficult Before They Become Easy
Meaning: Patience is needed to master challenging tasks over time.
In a Sentence:
Have patience; all things are difficult before they become easy, she told herself.
He remembered to have patience, as all things are difficult before they become easy.
Other Ways to Say: Stay patient, Challenges ease with time, Persevere through difficulty
6. My Patience Is Wearing Out
Meaning: Patience is running low due to frustration or delays.
In a Sentence:
My patience is wearing out with these constant interruptions.
Her patience is wearing out waiting for the results.
Other Ways to Say: Running out of patience, Losing calm, At wit’s end
7. Patience of Job
Meaning: Extreme patience, referring to the biblical figure Job’s endurance.
In a Sentence:
He showed the patience of Job during the long ordeal.
Her patience of Job helped her through tough times.
Other Ways to Say: Job-like endurance, Unwavering patience, Steadfast calm
8. Patience Is Bitter, but Its Fruit Is Sweet
Meaning: Patience may be hard, but it leads to rewarding outcomes.
In a Sentence:
Patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet, she realized after success.
He endured, knowing patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet.
Other Ways to Say: Patience pays off, Hard work sweet reward, Endurance brings success
9. Patience, Persistence, and Perspiration Make an Unbeatable Combination for Success
Meaning: Combining patience with effort and perseverance leads to success.
In a Sentence:
Patience, persistence, and perspiration made her unbeatable in her goals.
He succeeded, proving patience, persistence, and perspiration are key.
Other Ways to Say: Patience and effort win, Hard work and waiting succeed, Endurance plus effort
10. Try Patience
Meaning: To attempt to stay calm and patient in a challenging situation.
In a Sentence:
She decided to try patient instead of rushing the task.
Try patience, he advised, when things got tough.
Other Ways to Say: Be patient, Stay calm, Exercise restraint
11. A Watched Pot Never Boils
Meaning: Time feels slower when you’re impatiently waiting for something.
In a Sentence:
A watched pot never boils, so she distracted herself while waiting.
He learned that a watched pot never boils during the long process.
Other Ways to Say: Time drags when waiting, Impatience slows time, Don’t watch the clock
12. Beware the Fury of a Patient Man
Meaning: A patient person’s anger, when provoked, is intense.
In a Sentence:
Beware the fury of a patient man; his calm broke fiercely.
She warned, Beware the fury of a patient man, after his outburst.
Other Ways to Say: Patient anger is strong, Calm people snap hard, Quiet fury
13. He That Can Have Patience Can Have What He Will
Meaning: Patience allows one to achieve their desires over time.
In a Sentence:
He that can have patience can have what he will, so he waited.
She believed that he could be patient and have what he wanted.
Other Ways to Say: Patience achieves goals, Wait and win, Endurance gets results
14. Out of Patience
Meaning: Completely exhausted of patience, unable to wait longer.
In a Sentence:
She was out of patience after hours of delays.
He’s out of patience with the slow progress.
Other Ways to Say: Done waiting, No patience left, Fed up
15. Patience Surpasses Learning
Meaning: Patience is more valuable than knowledge in achieving success.
In a Sentence:
Patience surpasses learning, helping her master the skill.
He found that patience surpasses learning in tough tasks.
Other Ways to Say: Patience beats knowledge, Calm outshines smarts, Endurance overrules learning
Related Post: 50 Idioms for Waiting to Master Patience in Style
16. Rome Wasn’t Built in a Day
Meaning: Great things take time and patience to achieve.
In a Sentence:
Rome wasn’t built in a day, so she took her time learning.
He reminded himself that Rome wasn’t built in a day during the project.
Other Ways to Say: Great things take time, Success needs patience, Slow and steady
17. Our Patience Will Achieve More Than Our Force
Meaning: Patience accomplishes more than aggressive effort.
In a Sentence:
Our patience will achieve more than our force, she advised.
He learned that our patience will achieve more than our force.
Other Ways to Say: Patience wins over force, Calm beats aggression, Steadiness succeeds
18. The Two Most Powerful Warriors Are Patience and Time
Meaning: Patience and time are key to overcoming challenges.
In a Sentence:
The two most powerful warriors are patience and time, guiding her success.
He relied on the two most powerful warriors: patience and time.
Other Ways to Say: Patience and time conquer, Time plus calm wins, Endurance and waiting
19. All Human Wisdom Is Summed Up in Two Words; Wait and Hope
Meaning: Patience and optimism are the essence of wisdom.
In a Sentence:
All human wisdom is summed up in two words: wait and hope, she believed.
He lived by the idea that all human wisdom is summed up in waiting and hope.
Other Ways to Say: Wait and hope, Patience and optimism, Endure with faith
20. Few Things Are Impossible to Diligence and Skill. Great Works Are Performed Not by Strength, but Perseverance
Meaning: Patience and skill achieve great results, not just strength.
In a Sentence:
Few things are impossible to diligence and skill; she persevered to succeed.
Great works are performed not by strength, but by perseverance, he learned.
Other Ways to Say: Skill and patience win, Perseverance beats strength, Effort plus endurance
21. Patience Is a Painter
Meaning: Patience creates careful, beautiful outcomes, like an artist’s work.
In a Sentence:
Patience is a painter, crafting her success slowly.
He saw that patience is a painter in his detailed work.
Other Ways to Say: Patience crafts beauty, Slow work creates art, Calm builds perfection
22. Patience Is the Best Remedy for Every Trouble
Meaning: Patience helps resolve or endure most difficulties.
In a Sentence:
Patience is the best remedy for every trouble, she found.
He relied on patience as the best remedy for his challenges.
Other Ways to Say: Patience heals all, Calm resolves issues, Endurance fixes troubles
23. Play a Waiting Game
Meaning: To delay action patiently to gain an advantage.
In a Sentence:
She played a waiting game to secure the best deal.
He’s playing a waiting game, staying patient for results.
Other Ways to Say: Wait strategically, Bide your time, Hold off for advantage
24. The Trees That Are Slow to Grow Bear the Best Fruit
Meaning: Slow, patient effort leads to the best outcomes.
In a Sentence:
The trees that are slow to grow bear the best fruit, she reminded herself.
He knew the trees that are slow to grow bear the best fruit in his work.
Other Ways to Say: Slow progress yields quality, Patience brings rewards, Steady wins
25. Bide Your Time
Meaning: To wait patiently for the right opportunity.
In a Sentence:
She bided her time before making a career move.
Bide your time, and the perfect chance will come.
Other Ways to Say: Wait patiently, Hold off, Time it right
26. Slow and Steady Wins the Race
Meaning: Consistent, patient effort leads to success, like in a fable.
In a Sentence:
Slow and steady wins the race, so she paced herself.
He worked slowly, knowing that slow and steady wins the race.
Other Ways to Say: Patience prevails, Steady progress wins, Take your time
27. Hold Your Horses
Meaning: To wait or slow down, urging patience.
In a Sentence:
Hold your horses; we’ll get there soon enough.
She told him to hold his horses and be patient.
Other Ways to Say: Be patient, Slow down, Wait a moment
28. Keep Your Cool
Meaning: To remain calm and patient in a frustrating situation.
In a Sentence:
She kept her cool despite the long wait.
Keep your cool, and patience will pay off.
Other Ways to Say: Stay calm, Remain composed, Be patient
29. Time Will Tell
Meaning: Patience will reveal the outcome or truth over time.
In a Sentence:
Time will tell if her patient approach works.
He waited, knowing time will tell the results.
Other Ways to Say: Wait and see, Patience reveals, Time shows all
30. Take It One Step at a Time
Meaning: To progress patiently, focusing on small steps.
In a Sentence:
She took it one step at a time to learn the skill.
Take it one step at a time, and be patient.
Other Ways to Say: Go slowly, Step by step, Pace yourself
31. Patience Is a Virtue
Meaning: Patience is a valuable and admirable quality.
In a Sentence:
Patience is a virtue, especially in tough situations.
He reminded her that patience is a virtue during delays.
Other Ways to Say: Patience is valuable, Calm is admirable, Endurance is key
32. Wait It Out
Meaning: To remain patient until a situation resolves itself.
In a Sentence:
She waited it out, trusting the issue would pass.
He decided to wait it out during the storm.
Other Ways to Say: Ride it out, Be patient, Let it pass
33. Good Things Come to Those Who Wait
Meaning: Patience leads to rewarding outcomes.
In a Sentence:
Good things come to those who wait, so she stayed calm.
He believed good things come to those who wait.
Other Ways to Say: Patience pays off, Wait for rewards, Calm brings success
34. Keep Your Powder Dry
Meaning: To stay patient and prepared for the right moment.
In a Sentence:
Keep your powder dry and wait for the opportunity.
She kept her powder dry, patient for the right move.
Other Ways to Say: Stay ready, Be patient, Wait for the moment
35. Cool Your Heels
Meaning: To wait patiently, often reluctantly, for something.
In a Sentence:
She had to cool her heels while waiting for results.
He cooled his heels, practicing patience.
Other Ways to Say: Wait around, Be patient, Bide your time
Related Post: 50 Idioms about Positivity That Turn Words into Energy
36. Patience Wears Thin
Meaning: Patience is diminishing due to prolonged waiting or frustration.
In a Sentence:
Her patience wore thin after hours of waiting.
His patience is wearing thin with constant delays.
Other Ways to Say: Losing patience, Running out of calm, At the limit
37. Sit Tight
Meaning: To wait patiently without taking action.
In a Sentence:
Sit tight; the news will come soon enough.
She sat tight, practicing patience during the wait.
Other Ways to Say: Hold on, Stay put, Be patient
38. Time Is on Your Side
Meaning: Patience is advantageous because time will bring results.
In a Sentence:
Time is on your side, so don’t rush the process.
She knew time was on her side with patient effort.
Other Ways to Say: Time helps, Patience has time, Wait for success
39. Hang in There
Meaning: To remain patient and persevere through difficulties.
In a Sentence:
Hang in there; the tough part of learning takes patience.
He hung in there, staying patient despite setbacks.
Other Ways to Say: Keep going, Stay strong, Persevere
40. Hold the Line
Meaning: To remain steadfast and patient in a challenging situation.
In a Sentence:
She held the line, staying patient during negotiations.
Hold the line and keep your patience, he advised.
Other Ways to Say: Stay firm, Be patient, Stand your ground
41. Take Your Time
Meaning: To proceed slowly and patiently, without rushing.
In a Sentence:
Take your time; there’s no need to hurry.
She took her time, learning with patience.
Other Ways to Say: Go slowly, Don’t rush, Be patient
42. Wait and See
Meaning: To be patient and observe how a situation unfolds.
In a Sentence:
Let’s wait and see what happens next.
She waited and saw, practicing patience with the outcome.
Other Ways to Say: Be patient, Watch and wait, See how it goes
43. Keep a Level Head
Meaning: To stay calm and patient in a stressful situation.
In a Sentence:
She kept a level head, waiting patiently for news.
Keep a level head and stay patient, he advised.
Other Ways to Say: Stay calm, Remain composed, Be patient
44. Patience Is Key
Meaning: Patience is essential for success or resolution.
In a Sentence:
Patience is key when learning a new skill.
He found that patience is key in tough projects.
Other Ways to Say: Patience is crucial, Calm is essential, Endurance matters
45. Long Game
Meaning: A strategy requiring patience for long-term success.
In a Sentence:
She’s playing the long game, staying patient for results.
The long game requires patience and planning.
Other Ways to Say: Long-term strategy, Patient approach, Extended effort
46. Don’t Push the River
Meaning: To let things happen naturally, requiring patience.
In a Sentence:
Don’t push the river; let success come with patience.
She learned not to push the river, waiting calmly.
Other Ways to Say: Let it flow, Be patient, Go with the flow
47. Hold Your Fire
Meaning: To wait patiently before acting or reacting.
In a Sentence:
Hold your fire and wait for the right moment.
She held her fire, staying patient in the discussion.
Other Ways to Say: Wait before acting, Be patient, Hold off
48. Patience Is Golden
Meaning: Patience is highly valuable and rewarding.
In a Sentence:
Patience is golden when dealing with challenges.
She found that patience is golden in her long-term goals.
Other Ways to Say: Patience is precious, Calm is valuable, Endurance pays
49. Wait for the Dust to Settle
Meaning: To be patient until a chaotic situation becomes clear.
In a Sentence:
Wait for the dust to settle before deciding.
She waited for the dust to settle, staying patient.
Other Ways to Say: Let things calm, Be patient, Wait it out
50. Slow Burn
Meaning: A gradual, patient approach to progress or emotion.
In a Sentence:
Her success was a slow burn, built with patience.
The project was a slow burn, requiring steady effort.
Other Ways to Say: Gradual progress, Patient buildup, Steady effort
Exercise to Practice – Idioms for Patience
- After waiting in the long queue for an hour, my _________________________.
- She waited for the right opportunity to launch her business, believing that _________________________.
- The project will be a success, but we must remember that _________________________.
- His calm and composed demeanor while dealing with the unruly customers showed he had the _________________________.
- He was about to confront his coworker, but his manager told him to _________________________ and wait for a better moment.
- The investor advised the young startup to _________________________ before making a big decision.
- The key to learning a new language is to _________________________ and not get discouraged by the small mistakes.
- She knew that _________________________ and that rushing the delicate process would only lead to errors.
- He was frustrated with the long project, but his boss reminded him that _________________________ for a perfect outcome.
- The wise old man told the young man to _________________________ and let the situation unfold naturally.
Answer Key
- patience wore thin
- everything comes to him who waits
- Rome wasn’t built in a day
- patience of a saint
- hold his horses
- play a waiting game
- take it one step at a time
- patience is a virtue
- slow and steady wins the race
- not push the river
Conclusion
Developing idioms for patience is key to navigating life’s challenges with grace. These phrases are more than just words; they are tools that allow you to express composure and resilience in any waiting game. Don’t just sit there; start using these idioms today to show you’re not just waiting, you’re growing stronger.
Danny Weber is a language enthusiast and freelance writer with a passion for unpacking the beauty of idioms and metaphors. Through years of research and creative exploration, Danny helps readers understand the deeper meanings behind familiar phrases—making figurative language feel accessible, engaging, and alive. Whether he’s decoding classic sayings or crafting new twists on old expressions, Danny’s work invites you to see language with fresh eyes.
