Waiting is something we all experience—whether it’s the quiet patience of anticipating good news or the restless moments of standing in line. To express these situations vividly, the language offers a wide variety of idioms for waiting. These expressions not only add color to how we communicate but also make speech sound more natural and expressive.
In this article, you’ll discover 50 of the most useful idioms for waiting, grouped by theme with clear explanations and emotional context. Let’s dive in and explore them today!
Best Idioms for Waiting
1. Wait and see
Meaning: To be patient and observe what happens before making a decision or taking action. It reflects calmness and a willingness to let things unfold naturally.
In a Sentence:
We’ll just wait and see how the situation develops.
She decided to wait and see before responding to the offer.
Other Ways to Say: Be patient. Watch and wait. Hold off.
2. Waiting in the wings
Meaning: To be prepared and ready to step in when the opportunity arises, showing quiet preparation and alertness.
In a Sentence:
The junior staff were waiting in the wings for their chance to lead.
She’s waiting in the wings, hoping for a promotion.
Other Ways to Say: Stand ready. Be prepared. Stay alert.
3. Bide your time
Meaning: To wait patiently and strategically for the best possible moment to act, often with careful planning.
In a Sentence:
He’s biding his time before making his next move.
They bide their time, waiting for the perfect opportunity.
Other Ways to Say: Wait patiently. Hold off. Lie low.
4. Hold your horses
Meaning: To stop or slow down to avoid rushing into something; emphasizes self-control and restraint.
In a Sentence:
Hold your horses—we haven’t finished planning yet!
She told him to hold his horses until everything was confirmed.
Other Ways to Say: Slow down. Be patient. Don’t rush.
5. Keep your powder dry
Meaning: To stay ready for action but not act until the right moment, showing caution and preparedness.
In a Sentence:
They’re keeping their powder dry until the market stabilizes.
We should keep our powder dry until we know more details.
Other Ways to Say: Stay ready. Be prepared. Wait for the right moment.
6. Play the waiting game
Meaning: To deliberately wait with patience, often as a tactic to gain an advantage or better outcome.
In a Sentence:
The team is playing the waiting game to get the best deal.
We’re playing the waiting game until new data is available.
Other Ways to Say: Wait strategically. Hang back. Be patient.
7. Wait for the right moment
Meaning: To hold back and wait until the most favorable time to act, showing perseverance and careful timing.
In a Sentence:
She waited for the right moment to share the news.
They’re waiting for the right moment to make their move.
Other Ways to Say: Time it well. Be patient. Hold off.
8. Stand by
Meaning: To be ready and available to act or assist when needed, highlighting preparedness and willingness.
In a Sentence:
The rescue crew is standing by for any emergency.
I’ll stand by if you need any help later.
Other Ways to Say: Be ready. Stay prepared. Be on call.
9. Hang fire
Meaning: To delay taking action temporarily, often to gather more information or wait for a clearer picture.
In a Sentence:
We decided to hang fire until the final approval came through.
They’re hanging fire on making any big investments right now.
Other Ways to Say: Delay. Hold off. Wait and see.
10. Mark time
Meaning: To maintain a holding pattern or stay in a state of waiting without forward movement, often temporarily.
In a Sentence:
The team is marking time until the new project starts.
We’re just marking time while we wait for instructions.
Other Ways to Say: Idle. Wait around. Pause.
11. Wait around
Meaning: To stay in a place doing nothing useful while waiting for something to happen.
In a Sentence:
We had to wait around for hours before the show started.
He’s just waiting around for his appointment.
Other Ways to Say: Hang around. Idle. Linger.
12. Twiddle your thumbs
Meaning: To sit or stand idly while waiting, doing nothing productive.
In a Sentence:
They twiddled their thumbs while the boss was in a meeting.
I don’t want to sit here twiddling my thumbs all afternoon.
Other Ways to Say: Idle. Do nothing. Wait aimlessly.
13. Clock watching
Meaning: To keep looking at the clock because you’re impatient for time to pass.
In a Sentence:
He spent the whole day clock-watching until his shift ended.
She kept clock-watching during the boring lecture.
Other Ways to Say: Watch the clock. Be impatient. Count minutes.
14. Sit
Meaning: To remain seated inactively while waiting, showing passivity.
In a Sentence:
We sat in silence waiting for the train.
He just sat there without saying a word, waiting.
Other Ways to Say: Stay put. Wait passively. Remain seated.
15. Cool your heels
Meaning: To be forced to wait for a long time, often unwillingly.
In a Sentence:
We had to cool our heels in the lobby before the meeting.
She was left cooling her heels outside the manager’s office.
Other Ways to Say: Wait. Be patient. Hang around.
Related Post: 50 Common Idioms for Hope and Positivity
16. Kick your heels
Meaning: To wait around with nothing to do, usually feeling bored.
In a Sentence:
They were kicking their heels at the airport for hours.
We had to kick our heels before the event began.
Other Ways to Say: Wait idly. Be bored. Hang about.
17. Loiter about
Meaning: To wait or walk around a place without any clear purpose.
In a Sentence:
He loitered about the station waiting for his friend.
They were loitering about near the entrance.
Other Ways to Say: Linger. Hang around. Wander.
18. Hang around
Meaning: To stay in a place without doing much, often while waiting.
In a Sentence:
We hung around the café until it was time to leave.
He’s been hanging around the office all morning.
Other Ways to Say: Wait around. Loiter. Linger.
19. Linger on
Meaning: To stay in a place longer than necessary, often hesitating to leave.
In a Sentence:
She lingered on at the party even after most people left.
They lingered on in the hallway chatting.
Other Ways to Say: Stay longer. Loiter. Dawdle.
20. Dally
Meaning: To waste time or delay doing something without a good reason.
In a Sentence:
Stop dallying and get to work!
He dallied over his lunch, avoiding the next meeting.
Other Ways to Say: Dawdle. Loaf. Stall.
21. Catch the next wave
Meaning: To wait for and seize the next available opportunity.
In a Sentence:
She missed this round but plans to catch the next wave.
They’re waiting to catch the next wave of job openings.
Other Ways to Say: Wait for your turn. Seize the next chance. Jump in later.
22. On the waiting list
Meaning: To be officially listed as someone waiting for a chance or placement.
In a Sentence:
He’s on the waiting list for the new apartment.
We joined the waiting list for concert tickets.
Other Ways to Say: In line. Awaiting your turn. Pending.
23. Wait
Meaning: To remain in place or delay action until something expected happens.
In a Sentence:
Let’s wait for the official announcement.
They waited patiently for their turn.
Other Ways to Say: Hold on. Stay. Remain.
24. Lie in wait
Meaning: To hide and wait secretly in preparation to act, often used for strategic patience.
In a Sentence:
The police lay in wait for the suspects.
He’s lying in wait for the right investment opportunity.
Other Ways to Say: Stay hidden. Be ready. Wait stealthily.
25. Hold your breath
Meaning: To wait in suspense, often with excitement or anxiety.
In a Sentence:
We held our breath as the winner was announced.
She’s holding her breath, hoping for good news.
Other Ways to Say: Be tense. Wait anxiously. Stay alert.
26. Stand in line
Meaning: To wait your turn in an orderly queue.
In a Sentence:
We stood in line for hours to buy tickets.
People were standing in line outside the store.
Other Ways to Say: Queue. Wait your turn. Line up.
27. Queue up
Meaning: To form or join a line while waiting for your turn.
In a Sentence:
They queued up early to get into the concert.
Shoppers are queuing up outside the mall.
Other Ways to Say: Line up. Stand in line. Wait in queue.
28. Be on standby
Meaning: To be ready and available to act if needed.
In a Sentence:
The medical team is on standby for emergencies.
I’ll be on standby in case extra help is needed.
Other Ways to Say: Be ready. Stay prepared. Be available.
29. Wait in the queue
Meaning: To stay in line and wait your turn patiently.
In a Sentence:
We waited in the queue for hours at the embassy.
They had to wait in the queue to get in.
Other Ways to Say: Line up. Stand in line. Queue.
30. Be next in line
Meaning: To be the one who will receive or experience something after others ahead.
In a Sentence:
She’s next in line for a promotion.
We’re next in line to be seated.
Other Ways to Say: Up next. Coming soon. Awaiting your turn.
31. Watched pot never boils
Meaning: When you anxiously wait for something, it feels like it takes longer to happen.
In a Sentence:
He kept checking his phone, but a watched pot never boils.
Waiting for the letter felt endless—a watched pot never boils.
Other Ways to Say: Time drags. Feels endless. Slow progress.
32. Accident waiting to happen
Meaning: A situation that seems very likely to go wrong or turn into trouble.
In a Sentence:
That broken step is an accident waiting to happen.
The crowded exit was an accident waiting to happen.
Other Ways to Say: Disaster waiting to happen. Risky setup. Hazard.
33. Waiting for
Meaning: To be anxiously expecting something, often feeling nervous.
In a Sentence:
We’re waiting for the final decision from the board.
She’s waiting for her test results.
Other Ways to Say: Expect. Await. Look out for.
34. On tenterhooks
Meaning: To be in a state of nervous suspense and anxious anticipation.
In a Sentence:
We were on tenterhooks waiting for the exam results.
She’s been on tenterhooks all day about the interview.
Other Ways to Say: Be anxious. Be tense. Be nervous.
35. Sweat it out
Meaning: To endure a stressful or anxious waiting period.
In a Sentence:
We had to sweat it out until the final score was posted.
He’s sweating it out before his big presentation.
Other Ways to Say: Endure anxiety. Tough it out. Wait nervously.
Related Post: 50 Idioms for Excitement to Energize Your Speech
36. Hold your nerve
Meaning: To stay calm and maintain self-control during a tense situation.
In a Sentence:
She held her nerve during the difficult negotiation.
It’s important to hold your nerve in a crisis.
Other Ways to Say: Stay calm. Keep steady. Be composed.
37. Bite your nails
Meaning: To feel extremely nervous or anxious while waiting for something.
In a Sentence:
I was biting my nails waiting for the results.
He bit his nails before the game began.
Other Ways to Say: Be anxious. Be jittery. Be uneasy.
38. Be on edge
Meaning: To feel tense, restless, and irritable while waiting or worrying.
In a Sentence:
Everyone was on edge before the big announcement.
She’s on edge about the upcoming deadline.
Other Ways to Say: Be tense. Be nervous. Be unsettled.
39. Wait with bated breath
Meaning: To wait with great excitement, anxiety, or anticipation.
In a Sentence:
We waited with bated breath for the concert to start.
She’s waiting with bated breath to hear the results.
Other Ways to Say: Be eager. Be anxious. Hold your breath.
40. Be in suspense
Meaning: To be in a state of anxious uncertainty while waiting for something to happen.
In a Sentence:
The audience was in suspense until the final scene.
I’ve been in suspense all week about the decision.
Other Ways to Say: Be uncertain. Be anxious. Be tense.
41. Wait until the dust settles
Meaning: To delay action until a situation becomes clearer or more stable.
In a Sentence:
Let’s wait until the dust settles before making any decisions.
They’re waiting until the dust settles after the merger.
Other Ways to Say: Be patient. Hold off. Wait for clarity.
42. Wait up
Meaning: To stay behind or pause to wait for someone to catch up.
In a Sentence:
Wait up! I’m coming with you.
She shouted for him to wait up as she tied her shoe.
Other Ways to Say: Hold on. Pause. Slow down.
43. Wait on hand and foot
Meaning: To serve someone very attentively and do everything for them.
In a Sentence:
He waited on her hand and foot after her surgery.
They waited on their guests hand and foot during the holiday.
Other Ways to Say: Pamper. Serve completely. Be attentive.
44. Sit tight
Meaning: To stay in place and wait patiently without taking action.
In a Sentence:
The advisor told us to sit tight until the market recovers.
Just sit tight—we’ll figure it out soon.
Other Ways to Say: Stay put. Be patient. Hold still.
45. Hold off
Meaning: To delay or postpone taking action for a time.
In a Sentence:
We decided to hold off on the launch until next month.
Hold off making any decisions until you’ve reviewed everything.
Other Ways to Say: Delay. Postpone. Pause.
46. Put on hold
Meaning: To temporarily stop or suspend an activity or plan.
In a Sentence:
Our travel plans were put on hold due to the storm.
They put the renovation on hold until next year.
Other Ways to Say: Pause. Suspend. Delay.
47. Stay put
Meaning: To remain in the same place and not move until it’s safe or allowed.
In a Sentence:
Please stay put until the doctor comes back.
They stayed put during the lockdown.
Other Ways to Say: Stay still. Remain. Hold your place.
48. Hang back
Meaning: To stay behind or delay joining in, often out of caution.
In a Sentence:
He hung back while the others rushed ahead.
The shy student hung back during the group activity.
Other Ways to Say: Stay behind. Hold off. Wait.
49. Pause for thought
Meaning: To stop briefly and think carefully before continuing.
In a Sentence:
That question made me pause for thought.
She paused for thought before replying.
Other Ways to Say: Reflect. Consider. Take a moment.
50. Wait it out
Meaning: To endure a period of difficulty or delay until it passes.
In a Sentence:
We’ll just have to wait it out until the weather clears.
They decided to wait it out rather than cancel the trip.
Other Ways to Say: Hold on. Endure. Stick with it.
Exercise to practice
- She had to __________ while the team finished preparing.
- We stood there and __________ until the doors opened.
- He decided to __________ before making his final decision.
- Everyone was __________ as they waited for the announcement.
- Let’s __________ for a bit and see what happens next.
- They __________ to avoid rushing into a bad investment.
- I was __________ the whole time waiting for my exam results.
- We were told to __________ while the situation calmed down.
- The kids __________ while waiting for their parents to arrive.
- He’s __________ until the perfect job opportunity comes up.
Answers
- wait around
- twiddled our thumbs
- bide his time
- on tenterhooks
- play the waiting game
- held their horses
- biting my nails
- wait until the dust settles
- monkeyed around
- lying in wait
Conclusion
Now you’ve explored 50 essential idioms for waiting that cover everything from patience and anticipation to frustration and hesitation. Mastering these idioms allows you to express thoughts more precisely and make your communication sound more authentic.
Keep practicing to feel confident using them in real situations. Stay tuned for more idiom collections and continue expanding your vocabulary with ease!
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.
