Waiting can sometimes feel hard. Whether you’re in line for a ride, waiting for a package, or just counting the days to your birthday, time can feel really slow. People often use special phrases to describe the feeling of waiting. These phrases are called idioms. They help us talk about waiting in fun and interesting ways.
Idioms about waiting are used in stories, movies, and everyday conversations. Some show how boring waiting feels, while others show how exciting it is to wait for something special. In this article, you will learn many idioms about waiting. Each one will have a simple meaning and a sentence to help you understand how to use it.
Idioms About Waiting
1. Watch the clock
Meaning: To keep looking at the time while waiting
Example Sentence:
• I kept watching the clock during the last class.
• He watched the clock, waiting for lunch.
Other ways to say: Check the time, count minutes
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from the idea of staring at a clock while time moves slowly.
Usage: Used when someone is bored or waiting for time to pass.
2. Cool your heels
Meaning: To wait patiently or unwillingly
Example Sentence:
• I had to cool my heels while Mom finished shopping.
• He cooled his heels in the lobby before his appointment.
Other ways to say: Wait around, hang out
Fun Fact/Origin: Long ago, this was said when horses had to stop running and rest.
Usage: Used when waiting and not very excited about it.
3. Hold your horses
Meaning: To wait or slow down
Example Sentence:
• Hold your horses! Dinner isn’t ready yet.
• She told him to hold his horses until the movie started.
Other ways to say: Be patient, wait a minute
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from when riders had to stop their horses.
Usage: Used when someone is rushing and needs to wait.
4. On pins and needles
Meaning: Feeling nervous while waiting
Example Sentence:
• She was on pins and needles before her test.
• We were on pins and needles waiting to hear the winner.
Other ways to say: Nervous waiting, anxious
Fun Fact/Origin: It’s like sitting on something sharp—you can’t stay still.
Usage: Used when waiting for important or scary news.
5. Killing time
Meaning: Doing something to pass the time
Example Sentence:
• I played a game to kill time before dinner.
• He was killing time at the library before practice.
Other ways to say: Pass time, fill time
Fun Fact/Origin: The phrase means to “get rid of” boring time.
Usage: Used when you’re doing something while you wait.
6. Time drags
Meaning: Time feels very slow
Example Sentence:
• Time drags when you’re stuck in traffic.
• School days feel slow when time drags.
Other ways to say: Time moves slowly, feels like forever
Fun Fact/Origin: People say it when waiting feels long.
Usage: Used when you feel bored waiting.
7. Bide your time
Meaning: To wait for the right moment
Example Sentence:
• He bided his time before asking the question.
• She’s biding her time to make her move in the game.
Other ways to say: Wait patiently, wait and see
Fun Fact/Origin: “Bide” is an old word for “wait.”
Usage: Used when someone waits calmly for a good time.
8. Twiddle your thumbs
Meaning: Doing nothing while waiting
Example Sentence:
• I twiddled my thumbs while the teacher passed out papers.
• She twiddled her thumbs before the ride started.
Other ways to say: Sit around, wait without doing much
Fun Fact/Origin: Twiddling thumbs is something people do when bored.
Usage: Used when someone is bored and waiting.
9. Just around the corner
Meaning: Something will happen soon
Example Sentence:
• Summer break is just around the corner.
• The ice cream truck should be just around the corner.
Other ways to say: Almost here, coming soon
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from the idea of something waiting nearby.
Usage: Used to say you won’t have to wait much longer.
10. At the eleventh hour
Meaning: At the very last moment
Example Sentence:
• He turned in his homework at the eleventh hour.
• They arrived at the party at the eleventh hour.
Other ways to say: Just in time, last second
Fun Fact/Origin: The number eleven is the last hour before twelve (midnight or deadline).
Usage: Used when something happens right before it’s too late.
11. Wait it out
Meaning: To stay and wait through something
Example Sentence:
• We waited it out during the rain.
• He had to wait it out until the movie started.
Other ways to say: Stick around, stay until it’s over
Fun Fact/Origin: Used when people wait for a situation to change.
Usage: Used when waiting for something to end or pass.
12. In the waiting game
Meaning: A time when people wait for something to happen
Example Sentence:
• Job hunting feels like a waiting game.
• We’re in the waiting game for the doctor’s call.
Other ways to say: Waiting period, on hold
Fun Fact/Origin: Describes waiting like it’s part of a game.
Usage: Used when things are uncertain, and all you can do is wait.
13. Count the days
Meaning: Eagerly waiting for something
Example Sentence:
• I’m counting the days until summer.
• She counts the days until her birthday.
Other ways to say: Look forward to, can’t wait
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from people marking off days on a calendar.
Usage: Used when someone is excited and waiting.
14. Like watching paint dry
Meaning: Waiting feels really boring
Example Sentence:
• Waiting at the DMV is like watching paint dry.
• That movie was slow—like watching paint dry.
Other ways to say: Super boring, dull
Fun Fact/Origin: Paint dries slowly, and it’s boring to watch.
Usage: Used when waiting feels slow and unexciting.
15. Hold the line
Meaning: To wait on the phone
Example Sentence:
• I had to hold the line for 10 minutes.
• She told me to hold the line while she found her notebook.
Other ways to say: Stay on the phone, don’t hang up
Fun Fact/Origin: From old phone calls when people had to stay connected.
Usage: Used during phone conversations.
16. Wait your turn
Meaning: Be patient until it’s your time
Example Sentence:
• You have to wait your turn at the water fountain.
• She waited her turn for the slide.
Other ways to say: Be patient, get in line
Fun Fact/Origin: A common rule for fair play.
Usage: Used when someone needs to be patient in a group.
17. Time stands still
Meaning: It feels like time isn’t moving
Example Sentence:
• Time stood still during the long speech.
• Waiting for the test results made time stand still.
Other ways to say: Time froze, time moved slowly
Fun Fact/Origin: Often used to show strong feelings or boredom.
Usage: Used when time feels like it’s not moving at all.
18. On hold
Meaning: Waiting for something to happen
Example Sentence:
• My vacation is on hold until we save more money.
• The game was on hold because of rain.
Other ways to say: Paused, delayed
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from phone calls but now used more broadly.
Usage: Used when something is paused or not happening yet.
19. Patience is a virtue
Meaning: Waiting calmly is a good thing
Example Sentence:
• Mom says patience is a virtue when I get fussy.
• He learned that patience is a virtue while waiting at the doctor.
Other ways to say: Be patient, patience is important
Fun Fact/Origin: This phrase has been used for hundreds of years.
Usage: Used when reminding someone to stay calm and wait.
20. Ants in your pants
Meaning: Too excited or nervous to wait
Example Sentence:
• He had ants in his pants before the game.
• She had ants in her pants waiting for cake.
Other ways to say: Super excited, can’t sit still
Fun Fact/Origin: Imagine how wiggly you’d be with ants in your clothes!
Usage: Used when someone can’t sit still while waiting.
21. Wait and see
Meaning: Be patient and find out later
Example Sentence:
• We’ll have to wait and see if school is canceled.
• Just wait and see what happens in the game.
Other ways to say: Time will tell, hold on
Fun Fact/Origin: This phrase encourages patience.
Usage: Used when the result isn’t known yet.
22. Keep someone waiting
Meaning: Make someone wait
Example Sentence:
• Don’t keep your teacher waiting.
• He kept me waiting outside for 20 minutes.
Other ways to say: Delay someone, make someone wait
Fun Fact/Origin: Often used when someone is late.
Usage: Used when one person causes another to wait.
23. On the edge of your seat
Meaning: Very excited while waiting
Example Sentence:
• I was on the edge of my seat during the last inning.
• She was on the edge of her seat waiting for the winner.
Other ways to say: Super excited, very anxious
Fun Fact/Origin: You almost sit forward when excited.
Usage: Used for exciting or tense moments.
24. In limbo
Meaning: Waiting without knowing what will happen
Example Sentence:
• We’re in limbo until we hear from the school.
• The project is in limbo while we wait for approval.
Other ways to say: In between, stuck waiting
Fun Fact/Origin: The word “limbo” means a place in between.
Usage: Used when something is not decided yet.
25. Wait forever
Meaning: Wait a really long time
Example Sentence:
• It felt like we waited forever for the ride.
• I had to wait forever for my food.
Other ways to say: Waited a long time, took so long
Fun Fact/Origin: Exaggeration to show long wait.
Usage: Used when something takes too long.
26. On standby
Meaning: Ready but waiting
Example Sentence:
• We’re on standby for a table at the restaurant.
• She’s on standby in case the other team can’t play.
Other ways to say: Ready to go, wait to be called
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from flight travel, where people wait for seats.
Usage: Used when someone is waiting to be chosen or used.
27. Sit tight
Meaning: Wait calmly
Example Sentence:
• Sit tight, the doctor will be here soon.
• She told us to sit tight while she got help.
Other ways to say: Stay put, wait calmly
Fun Fact/Origin: “Tight” means staying still or not moving.
Usage: Used when asking someone to wait quietly.
28. Until the cows come home
Meaning: For a long time
Example Sentence:
• He could wait until the cows come home and still be happy.
• We talked about sports until the cows came home.
Other ways to say: A long time, forever
Fun Fact/Origin: Cows come home slowly, at their own pace.
Usage: Used to say something takes or lasts a long time.
29. Wait in the wings
Meaning: Be ready to take your turn
Example Sentence:
• She’s waiting in the wings for her chance to speak.
• The backup dancer waited in the wings during the show.
Other ways to say: Get ready, stand by
Fun Fact/Origin: From theater, where people wait behind the curtain.
Usage: Used when someone is ready but waiting.
30. Hurry up and wait
Meaning: Rush and then have to wait
Example Sentence:
• We hurried to get ready, but then had to wait.
• It was a hurry up and wait situation at the airport.
Other ways to say: Rush, then stop
Fun Fact/Origin: Used in military and travel situations.
Usage: Used when you hurry, then end up waiting anyway.
31. In the queue
Meaning: In line waiting
Example Sentence:
• We were in the queue for pizza.
• He stood in the queue at the amusement park.
Other ways to say: In line, waiting
Fun Fact/Origin: “Queue” is used more in the UK than the US.
Usage: Used when standing in line for something.
32. In suspense
Meaning: Feeling anxious while waiting
Example Sentence:
• I was in suspense before they announced the winner.
• The movie kept us in suspense until the end.
Other ways to say: Anxious, tense
Fun Fact/Origin: “Suspense” means not knowing what will happen.
Usage: Used when something exciting or scary is coming.
33. Hang on
Meaning: Wait a little bit
Example Sentence:
• Hang on, I need a minute.
• Can you hang on while I grab my notebook?
Other ways to say: Wait a sec, hold on
Fun Fact/Origin: This simple phrase is used every day.
Usage: Used when asking for a short wait.
34. Wait for the dust to settle
Meaning: Wait until things calm down
Example Sentence:
• Let’s wait for the dust to settle before we decide.
• He waited for the dust to settle after the big change.
Other ways to say: Wait for calm, pause
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from how dust rises in a busy place and settles later.
Usage: Used after big changes or problems.
35. Time will tell
Meaning: We’ll find out later
Example Sentence:
• Time will tell if we made the right choice.
• She said time will tell how good the team is.
Other ways to say: We’ll see, wait and find out
Fun Fact/Origin: Means that only time can show the result.
Usage: Used when the answer will come in the future.
Quiz: Idioms About Waiting
Instructions: Read each question and the answer choices carefully. Pick the letter that best matches the meaning of the phrase or expression.
Question Key
1. What does “hold your horses” mean?
A) Go faster
B) Be patient
C) Ride a horse
2. If someone says “time drags,” what are they feeling?
A) Time is going fast
B) Time feels slow
C) Time is frozen
3. What does “cool your heels” mean?
A) Go outside
B) Take off your shoes
C) Wait patiently
4. If you are “on pins and needles,” how do you feel?
A) Calm and sleepy
B) Nervous and waiting
C) Happy and laughing
5. What does “twiddle your thumbs” mean?
A) Play a game
B) Wait with nothing to do
C) Count to ten
6. What does it mean to “bide your time”?
A) Wait quietly
B) Run fast
C) Forget something
7. If someone says “the event is on hold,” what do they mean?
A) It already happened
B) It is delayed or paused
C) It is happening right now
8. When someone is “counting the days,” what are they doing?
A) Waiting excitedly
B) Forgetting the date
C) Trying to sleep
9. What does “sit tight” mean?
A) Sit on the floor
B) Wait calmly
C) Leave quickly
10. If someone says “time will tell,” what does that mean?
A) You’ll know later
B) Time is over
C) Look at a clock
Answer Key
- B) Be patient
- B) Time feels slow
- C) Wait patiently
- B) Nervous and waiting
- B) Wait with nothing to do
- A) Wait quietly
- B) It is delayed or paused
- A) Waiting excitedly
- B) Wait calmly
- A) You’ll know later
Wrapping Up
Waiting is a part of life. We wait for birthdays, school breaks, and even dinner. Idioms make talking about waiting more fun and easier to understand. These phrases help us describe how we feel when we have to wait.
You’ve learned 35 idioms about waiting. Some are about being patient, others about feeling bored or excited. Next time you’re waiting, try using one of these phrases. They can help you explain what you’re feeling in a simple and creative way.
