Waiting can feel like an eternity, and the emotions tied to it can range from frustration to anticipation. Similes for waiting help express the different ways we experience the passage of time while we wait for something to happen. Whether it’s waiting for a special event, a life-changing moment, or simply for someone to show up, these similes capture the feeling of waiting in vivid and relatable ways.
1. Waiting is like watching paint dry
Meaning:
It feels incredibly slow and boring.
In a sentence:
The hours spent waiting for her to arrive were like watching paint dry.
Best use:
To express impatience when waiting feels excessively slow.
Other ways to say:
- Waiting is like watching grass grow.
- Waiting is like watching the clock tick endlessly.
2. Waiting is like being stuck in traffic
Meaning:
You’re trapped, with little movement, feeling the frustration of time passing.
In a sentence:
The wait for the news felt like being stuck in traffic, with no way out.
Best use:
To describe waiting when progress seems impossible and frustration builds.
Other ways to say:
- Waiting is like being in a traffic jam, just sitting there.
- Waiting is like being on a long road trip, stuck in endless delays.
3. Waiting is like a ticking clock
Meaning:
Time seems to move slowly, each tick echoing the passage of time.
In a sentence:
Each second of waiting felt like a ticking clock, counting down to something important.
Best use:
To describe the overwhelming feeling of time dragging on.
Other ways to say:
- Waiting is like hearing every tick of a clock in a silent room.
- Waiting is like a countdown, the seconds stretching out painfully.
4. Waiting is like watching sand slip through your fingers
Meaning:
Time is slipping away quickly, yet you can’t stop the waiting.
In a sentence:
The wait felt like watching sand slip through my fingers, moments I could never get back.
Best use:
To express the feeling of time passing quickly while you’re powerless to speed it up.
Other ways to say:
- Waiting is like watching the tide go out, no way to hurry it along.
- Waiting is like watching a sunset slowly fade away.
5. Waiting is like holding your breath
Meaning:
You feel anxious, like you’re on the edge of something.
In a sentence:
I waited for the response, like holding my breath, unsure of what would come next.
Best use:
To describe the tension and nervousness that comes with waiting.
Other ways to say:
- Waiting is like staying frozen in time, unable to exhale.
- Waiting is like holding in a sigh, expecting something to happen.
6. Waiting is like a never-ending elevator ride
Meaning:
Time feels suspended, and you’re unsure when it will stop.
In a sentence:
The wait felt like a never-ending elevator ride, with no idea when we’d reach our destination.
Best use:
To capture the feeling of being stuck in limbo while waiting.
Other ways to say:
- Waiting is like being stuck in an elevator, forever going up and down.
- Waiting is like riding an escalator, endlessly moving with no end.
7. Waiting is like waiting for rain in a drought
Meaning:
You feel desperate for something that feels unreachable.
In a sentence:
The wait for a reply felt like waiting for rain in a drought—long, dry, and hopeless.
Best use:
To convey a sense of longing and anticipation during a drawn-out wait.
Other ways to say:
- Waiting is like hoping for a miracle that never comes.
- Waiting is like waiting for snow in the middle of summer.
8. Waiting is like a car engine idling
Meaning:
It’s the anticipation of moving forward, but nothing happens.
In a sentence:
We were stuck in the lobby, like a car engine idling, waiting for the signal to move.
Best use:
To express the feeling of waiting for something to happen, but not making progress.
Other ways to say:
- Waiting is like a parked car, unable to move until the time is right.
- Waiting is like a plane stuck on the runway, just waiting for clearance.
9. Waiting is like waiting for a bus in the rain
Meaning:
You feel exposed and helpless, with time dragging on.
In a sentence:
I waited for hours, like waiting for a bus in the rain, getting wetter with each passing minute.
Best use:
To show the frustration and discomfort of waiting when you’re at the mercy of circumstances.
Other ways to say:
- Waiting is like waiting for a train that never comes.
- Waiting is like standing in the cold, hoping for warmth.
10. Waiting is like waiting for a knock at the door
Meaning:
You’re anticipating something, but you don’t know when it will happen.
In a sentence:
The wait felt like waiting for a knock at the door, expecting something important but unsure when it would come.
Best use:
To convey the anxiety and excitement of waiting for something uncertain.
Other ways to say:
- Waiting is like waiting for a letter that never arrives.
- Waiting is like watching for someone to appear around the corner.
11. Waiting is like watching a pot of water boil
Meaning:
Time moves at a painfully slow pace, and it feels like nothing is happening.
In a sentence:
The wait felt like watching a pot of water boil—agonizing and slow.
Best use:
To describe the irritation of waiting for something that seems to take forever.
Other ways to say:
- Waiting is like watching a kettle heat up, nothing to do but wait.
- Waiting is like counting the seconds until the water starts to bubble.
12. Waiting is like being stuck in a holding pattern
Meaning:
You’re caught in a situation with no resolution or movement forward.
In a sentence:
The whole day felt like being stuck in a holding pattern, unable to land or move forward.
Best use:
To describe waiting when you’re just spinning in circles, waiting for a resolution.
Other ways to say:
- Waiting is like being on a Ferris wheel, going round and round.
- Waiting is like being caught in a traffic loop, never getting anywhere.
13. Waiting is like a clock ticking louder in silence
Meaning:
The silence and stillness of waiting only make time feel more intense.
In a sentence:
As I waited for my turn, the silence was deafening, like a clock ticking louder and louder in the stillness.
Best use:
To emphasize the excruciating passage of time while waiting in silence.
Other ways to say:
- Waiting is like the sound of a metronome, the only noise you can hear.
- Waiting is like a heartbeat echoing in the quiet.
14. Waiting is like being in the eye of a hurricane
Meaning:
There’s a temporary calm before the storm, and you don’t know what’s coming next.
In a sentence:
The silence during the wait felt like being in the eye of a hurricane, knowing chaos would return at any moment.
Best use:
To express the feeling of calm before something uncertain happens after the wait.
Other ways to say:
- Waiting is like a calm before the storm, uneasy and unsettling.
- Waiting is like sitting in stillness before the chaos breaks loose.
15. Waiting is like an empty room
Meaning:
It feels lonely and unfulfilled, with time stretching on without purpose.
In a sentence:
The long wait felt like an empty room, void of activity or excitement.
Best use:
To describe waiting when it feels purposeless or draining.
Other ways to say:
- Waiting is like a barren desert, with no life or movement.
- Waiting is like a still, lifeless pond, nothing happening at all.
16. Waiting is like a long road ahead
Meaning:
It’s uncertain, and you don’t know how long it will last.
In a sentence:
The wait ahead felt like a long road, with no sign of an end in sight.
Best use:
To express the feeling of uncertainty and the long, uncertain nature of waiting.
Other ways to say:
- Waiting is like a journey that has no clear destination.
- Waiting is like a winding path, with no idea where it leads.
17. Waiting is like a watchful owl
Meaning:
You’re alert, vigilant, and waiting for the right moment.
In a sentence:
I waited, like a watchful owl in the darkness, ready to pounce as soon as the time was right.
Best use:
To describe a patient but watchful form of waiting.
Other ways to say:
- Waiting is like a cat, silently waiting for its prey.
- Waiting is like a hunter in the woods, alert and ready.
18. Waiting is like a clock on the wall
Meaning:
It’s a constant reminder of time ticking by slowly.
In a sentence:
The wait felt like staring at a clock on the wall, watching the minutes crawl by.
Best use:
To emphasize the slow passage of time during a wait.
Other ways to say:
- Waiting is like a distant alarm clock, too far away but still echoing.
- Waiting is like a hands of a clock, moving inch by inch.
19. Waiting is like being stuck in quicksand
Meaning:
The longer you wait, the harder it gets to move forward.
In a sentence:
The longer I waited, the more it felt like being stuck in quicksand, unable to get out.
Best use:
To describe the growing frustration and difficulty of waiting.
Other ways to say:
- Waiting is like sinking deeper into mud, helpless and slow.
- Waiting is like being in a never-ending loop, each moment feels harder to move through.
20. Waiting is like watching a flower bloom
Meaning:
It’s slow but beautiful, with a rewarding outcome.
In a sentence:
Waiting for the results was like watching a flower bloom, slow but worth it in the end.
Best use:
To describe waiting when the process is slow but rewarding.
Other ways to say:
- Waiting is like the growth of a tree, steady and slow.
- Waiting is like the dawn breaking, gradual but beautiful.
21. Waiting is like waiting for the stars to align
Meaning:
You’re waiting for a perfect moment, hoping everything will fall into place.
In a sentence:
I was waiting for everything to come together, like waiting for the stars to align.
Best use:
To express the uncertainty and hope tied to the wait for a perfect moment.
Other ways to say:
- Waiting is like waiting for fate to take its course.
- Waiting is like waiting for the universe to send a sign.
Conclusion
Waiting is an experience we all face at various points in our lives. Whether it’s for good news, an important event, or simply the passage of time, waiting can be difficult, frustrating, and sometimes rewarding. These 21 similes for waiting can help us express the complex emotions and experiences that come with waiting. By using these metaphors, we gain a deeper understanding of the moments we spend waiting and how they impact our perception of time.
