50 Idioms for Patience With Meaning & Sentences
Idioms for Patience
1. Bite your tongue
Meaning: To remain silent instead of speaking angrily or criticizing.
In a Sentence: I had to bite my tongue during the meeting to avoid saying something I’d regret.
Other Ways to Say: Hold back, Stay silent.
2. Rome wasn’t built in a day
Meaning: Important work takes time to complete.
In a Sentence: Don’t rush your progress—remember, Rome wasn’t built in a day.
Other Ways to Say: Take your time, Progress is slow.
3. Hold your horses
Meaning: Wait patiently and don’t act too quickly.
In a Sentence: Hold your horses—we need to check all the details first.
Other Ways to Say: Be patient, Slow down.
4. Hang in there
Meaning: Stay strong and patient through difficulties.
In a Sentence: Hang in there, things will get better soon.
Other Ways to Say: Stay strong, Don’t give up.
5. Sit tight
Meaning: Wait patiently without taking action.
In a Sentence: The doctor told me to sit tight while they reviewed my reports.
Other Ways to Say: Wait calmly, Be still.
6. Keep your cool
Meaning: Stay calm and composed.
In a Sentence: Even in stressful moments, he knows how to keep his cool.
Other Ways to Say: Stay calm, Remain composed.
7. Grin and bear it
Meaning: Tolerate a bad situation without complaining.
In a Sentence: She had to grin and bear it until the project was over.
Other Ways to Say: Endure, Suffer silently.
8. Take it in stride
Meaning: To deal with problems or delays calmly.
In a Sentence: Despite the criticism, she took it all in stride.
Other Ways to Say: Accept calmly, Handle with grace.
9. Wait for the dust to settle
Meaning: Be patient until a situation becomes clearer or calmer.
In a Sentence: Let’s wait for the dust to settle before making a decision.
Other Ways to Say: Wait it out, Let things calm down.
10. Play the long game
Meaning: To be patient and focus on long-term success.
In a Sentence: He’s playing the long game with his investments.
Other Ways to Say: Think long-term, Be strategic.
11. Slow and steady wins the race
Meaning: Patience and consistency lead to success.
In a Sentence: Don’t rush your work—slow and steady wins the race.
Other Ways to Say: Be consistent, Don’t hurry.
12. Bear with me
Meaning: Ask someone to be patient while you do something.
In a Sentence: Bear with me while I find your file.
Other Ways to Say: Please wait, Give me a moment.
13. Bide your time
Meaning: Wait patiently for the right moment.
In a Sentence: She bided her time until the perfect opportunity came.
Other Ways to Say: Wait smartly, Be strategic.
14. Take a deep breath
Meaning: Calm down before reacting.
In a Sentence: He took a deep breath before answering calmly.
Other Ways to Say: Stay calm, Breathe.
15. Keep a level head
Meaning: Stay calm and sensible in difficult situations.
In a Sentence: She kept a level head throughout the argument.
Other Ways to Say: Stay balanced, Don’t overreact.
16. Patience is a virtue
Meaning: Being patient is a valuable trait.
In a Sentence: Just wait—patience is a virtue.
Other Ways to Say: Patience is golden, It pays to wait.
17. Wait it out
Meaning: Endure a difficult situation by waiting.
In a Sentence: We decided to wait it out and see what happens.
Other Ways to Say: Be patient, Endure.
18. Not lose your head
Meaning: Stay calm in stressful situations.
In a Sentence: She didn’t lose her head even during the emergency.
Other Ways to Say: Remain calm, Don’t panic.
19. Kill time
Meaning: Do something to pass time while waiting.
In a Sentence: I read a book to kill time at the airport.
Other Ways to Say: Pass the time, Occupy yourself.
20. Let things run their course
Meaning: Allow events to unfold naturally.
In a Sentence: We decided to let things run their course.
Other Ways to Say: Don’t interfere, Be patient.
21. Sit on it
Meaning: Wait before taking action or making a decision.
In a Sentence: I’ll sit on it before responding to his offer.
Other Ways to Say: Delay decision, Think about it.
22. Cool your jets
Meaning: Calm down and wait patiently.
In a Sentence: Cool your jets—we’ll get to it soon.
Other Ways to Say: Relax, Be patient.
23. Weather the storm
Meaning: Endure a difficult situation with patience.
In a Sentence: We need to weather the storm and stay hopeful.
Other Ways to Say: Endure hardship, Get through it.
24. In due time
Meaning: Something will happen when the time is right.
In a Sentence: You’ll get your chance in due time.
Other Ways to Say: Eventually, At the right moment.
25. Take your sweet time
Meaning: To act or do something slowly and patiently.
In a Sentence: He took his sweet time answering the question.
Other Ways to Say: No rush, Take it easy.
26. Keep it together
Meaning: To stay calm and not lose emotional control.
In a Sentence: Even during chaos, she managed to keep it together.
Other Ways to Say: Stay calm, Stay composed
27. Steady as she goes
Meaning: Continue patiently and steadily without rushing.
In a Sentence: Just stay steady as she goes, success will come.
Other Ways to Say: Stay consistent, Keep moving slowly
28. Go the distance
Meaning: To persist patiently until the end of a task.
In a Sentence: He went the distance to complete the project.
Other Ways to Say: Persevere, Follow through
29. Keep a level head
Meaning: To remain calm and think clearly under pressure.
In a Sentence: He kept a level head during the emergency.
Other Ways to Say: Think calmly, Don’t panic
30. Wait it out
Meaning: To wait patiently until a difficult situation passes.
In a Sentence: We decided to wait it out instead of reacting too soon.
Other Ways to Say: Be patient, Endure
31. A watched pot never boils
Meaning: Time feels slower when you’re waiting impatiently.
In a Sentence: Stop staring at the oven—remember, a watched pot never boils.
Other Ways to Say: Don’t rush, Be patient
32. Ride it out
Meaning: To patiently endure a difficult time.
In a Sentence: They chose to ride it out instead of panicking.
Other Ways to Say: Stick through it, Endure patiently
33. One step at a time
Meaning: Take things slowly and patiently.
In a Sentence: Don’t stress—just take it one step at a time.
Other Ways to Say: Go slowly, Proceed gradually
34. Cool your jets
Meaning: To calm down and be patient.
In a Sentence: Cool your jets—we’ll leave soon.
Other Ways to Say: Calm down, Be patient
35. Be in it for the long haul
Meaning: To commit patiently for a long time.
In a Sentence: He’s in it for the long haul, no matter how hard it gets.
Other Ways to Say: Stay committed, Persevere
36. Keep the faith
Meaning: To remain patient and hopeful.
In a Sentence: Just keep the faith, things will get better.
Other Ways to Say: Stay hopeful, Trust the process
37. Don’t jump the gun
Meaning: Don’t act before the right time.
In a Sentence: He almost jumped the gun, but held back just in time.
Other Ways to Say: Wait patiently, Don’t rush
38. Time heals all wounds
Meaning: Patience helps recover from pain.
In a Sentence: Give it time—time heals all wounds.
Other Ways to Say: Healing takes time, Be patient
39. Take the long view
Meaning: To patiently look at the big picture.
In a Sentence: Investors are advised to take the long view.
Other Ways to Say: Think long-term, Be strategic
40. Stick to your guns
Meaning: To stay patient and firm in your beliefs.
In a Sentence: She stuck to her guns despite criticism.
Other Ways to Say: Stand firm, Stay committed
41. Haste makes waste
Meaning: Rushing leads to mistakes.
In a Sentence: Slow down—haste makes waste.
Other Ways to Say: Be careful, Take your time
42. Be slow to anger
Meaning: Show patience before reacting angrily.
In a Sentence: She was slow to anger and always calm.
Other Ways to Say: Stay cool-headed, Remain patient
43. Wait your turn
Meaning: Be patient until it’s your time.
In a Sentence: Please wait your turn—everyone will get a chance.
Other Ways to Say: Be orderly, Be patient
44. Trust the timing
Meaning: Have patience and faith in the right time.
In a Sentence: She believed in trusting the timing of her life.
Other Ways to Say: Be hopeful, Let things unfold
45. Delay is not denial
Meaning: Just because it hasn’t happened yet, doesn’t mean it won’t.
In a Sentence: Remember, delay is not denial.
Other Ways to Say: Keep waiting, Be persistent
46. Keep going
Meaning: Continue patiently despite difficulties.
In a Sentence: He kept going no matter how hard it got.
Other Ways to Say: Don’t give up, Persevere
47. Wait for the dust to settle
Meaning: Be patient until the situation becomes clear.
In a Sentence: Let’s wait for the dust to settle before deciding.
Other Ways to Say: Hold off, Be cautious
48. Wait for the right moment
Meaning: Be patient until the best time arrives.
In a Sentence: He waited for the right moment to speak.
Other Ways to Say: Be strategic, Choose timing wisely
49. Patience is its own reward
Meaning: Being patient brings peace and growth.
In a Sentence: In parenting, patience is its own reward.
Other Ways to Say: Patience pays, Calmness brings peace
50. Weather the storm
Meaning: To endure tough times patiently.
In a Sentence: They weathered the storm with quiet patience.
Other Ways to Say: Get through it, Stay strong
