Waiting is something we all do—whether it’s for a special day, good news, or just for dinner to be ready. Sometimes, waiting can feel long and tiring, and that’s why people use idioms to talk about it in fun and creative ways. In this article, I’m sharing 23 idioms for waiting that are super easy to understand, even if you’re just starting to learn English.
These expressions can help you explain those moments of waiting with warmth and clear words. Let’s take our time and go through them together!
1. Hold your horses
Meaning:
Be patient and wait.
In a sentence:
Hold your horses! The food isn’t ready yet.
Best use:
When someone is rushing too much.
Other ways to say:
- Slow down
- Be patient
- Just wait
2. Wait for the dust to settle
Meaning:
Wait until things calm down.
In a sentence:
Let’s wait for the dust to settle before deciding.
Best use:
When things feel a little chaotic.
Other ways to say:
- Wait until it’s quiet
- Let things calm down
- Take a pause
3. In the waiting game
Meaning:
Waiting with nothing else to do.
In a sentence:
We’re stuck in the waiting game for the test results.
Best use:
When you’re waiting without control.
Other ways to say:
- Just waiting
- Stuck waiting
- Waiting around
4. Time on your hands
Meaning:
Having extra time while waiting.
In a sentence:
I had time on my hands while waiting for the bus.
Best use:
When you have nothing else to do.
Other ways to say:
- Free time
- Nothing going on
- Extra minutes
5. Play the long game
Meaning:
Wait and plan for the future.
In a sentence:
I’m playing the long game with saving money.
Best use:
When waiting is part of a plan.
Other ways to say:
- Think ahead
- Take your time
- Plan smart
6. Killing time
Meaning:
Doing something to pass the time.
In a sentence:
We’re just killing time until the show starts.
Best use:
When you’re filling up time.
Other ways to say:
- Passing time
- Hanging out
- Filling the minutes
7. On hold
Meaning:
Waiting for something to start again.
In a sentence:
The project is on hold until next week.
Best use:
When things are paused.
Other ways to say:
- Paused
- Waiting
- Delayed
8. Wait and see
Meaning:
Be patient and find out later.
In a sentence:
We’ll have to wait and see how it turns out.
Best use:
When no one knows what will happen.
Other ways to say:
- Be patient
- Let’s find out
- Give it time
9. All in good time
Meaning:
It will happen when the time is right.
In a sentence:
Don’t rush— all in good time.
Best use:
When you tell someone to be patient.
Other ways to say:
- No rush
- It’ll happen
- Patience
10. Watch the clock
Meaning:
Looking at the time while waiting.
In a sentence:
I kept watching the clock during class.
Best use:
When time feels slow.
Other ways to say:
- Counting minutes
- Checking time
- Waiting slowly
11. In the nick of time
Meaning:
At the very last second.
In a sentence:
We arrived in the nick of time.
Best use:
When you barely make it.
Other ways to say:
- Just made it
- Barely on time
- Last minute
12. Bide your time
Meaning:
Wait calmly for the right moment.
In a sentence:
I’m biding my time before applying for the job.
Best use:
When you’re waiting smartly.
Other ways to say:
- Be patient
- Wait carefully
- Take your time
13. Hold the line
Meaning:
Stay and wait, usually on the phone.
In a sentence:
Please hold the line while I check.
Best use:
When someone is waiting to talk.
Other ways to say:
- Stay on the phone
- Wait a moment
- Hold on
14. Cool your heels
Meaning:
Wait, usually longer than you want.
In a sentence:
I had to cool my heels at the airport.
Best use:
When waiting takes forever.
Other ways to say:
- Wait it out
- Sit and wait
- Take a break
15. On pins and needles
Meaning:
Feeling nervous while waiting.
In a sentence:
I’m on pins and needles for the test results.
Best use:
When you’re waiting for big news.
Other ways to say:
- Anxious
- Nervous
- Feeling worried
16. At the eleventh hour
Meaning:
Right before the deadline.
In a sentence:
He turned it in at the eleventh hour.
Best use:
When waiting almost too long.
Other ways to say:
- Last minute
- Just in time
- Barely made it
17. Waiting in the wings
Meaning:
Ready to take over when needed.
In a sentence:
She’s waiting in the wings to become the leader.
Best use:
When someone is waiting for a chance.
Other ways to say:
- Ready to go
- Standing by
- Waiting quietly
18. Like watching paint dry
Meaning:
Waiting for something very boring.
In a sentence:
This meeting feels like watching paint dry.
Best use:
When waiting feels endless.
Other ways to say:
- Super boring
- Taking forever
- So slow
19. Marking time
Meaning:
Doing little things while waiting.
In a sentence:
I’m just marking time until my ride comes.
Best use:
When filling time with small tasks.
Other ways to say:
- Passing time
- Keeping busy
- Waiting patiently
20. Dragging your feet
Meaning:
Moving slowly on purpose.
In a sentence:
He’s dragging his feet on doing homework.
Best use:
When someone makes waiting longer.
Other ways to say:
- Stalling
- Taking too long
- Moving slow
21. Just around the corner
Meaning:
Something is coming soon.
In a sentence:
Summer is just around the corner!
Best use:
When waiting for something exciting.
Other ways to say:
- Almost here
- Coming up
- Soon
22. Twiddle your thumbs
Meaning:
Doing nothing while waiting.
In a sentence:
I sat there twiddling my thumbs.
Best use:
When you feel bored while waiting.
Other ways to say:
- Sitting around
- Doing nothing
- Wasting time
23. Waiting for the other shoe to drop
Meaning:
Expecting something bad after something good.
In a sentence:
After the good news, I’m waiting for the other shoe to drop.
Best use:
When waiting for bad news.
Other ways to say:
- Expecting trouble
- Worried
- Not sure it’s over
Conclusion
Waiting is part of life, but with these 23 idioms for waiting, you can talk about it in ways that sound clear, caring, and even fun. The next time you find yourself waiting, you’ll have just the right words to share the feeling.
