50 Idioms for Waiting With Meaning & Sentences
50 Idioms for Waiting
1. Twiddling thumbs
Meaning: Doing nothing while waiting for something to happen.
In a Sentence: The students were twiddling their thumbs during the power outage.
Other Ways to Say: Idle hands, Waiting idly
2. Clock-watching
Meaning: Constantly checking the time because one is eager for something to happen.
In a Sentence: Sarah was clock-watching, waiting for the school bell to ring.
Other Ways to Say: Time-checking, Eagerly monitoring the clock
3. In the pipeline
Meaning: Something that is being developed or will happen soon.
In a Sentence: New features are in the pipeline and will launch next month.
Other Ways to Say: On the way, Coming soon
4. Bite your time
Meaning: Wait patiently for the right moment to do something.
In a Sentence: He’s just biding his time before making his next move.
Other Ways to Say: Laying low, Waiting patiently
5. On hold
Meaning: Delayed or paused temporarily.
In a Sentence: The construction project is currently on hold due to budget cuts.
Other Ways to Say: Paused, Postponed
6. On the back burner
Meaning: To delay something for later.
In a Sentence: Our travel plans are on the back burner until work slows down.
Other Ways to Say: Deferred, Set aside
7. Kill time
Meaning: To do something while waiting.
In a Sentence: I watched a movie to kill time before the meeting.
Other Ways to Say: Pass time, Fill the gap
8. Hold your horses
Meaning: Be patient or wait a moment.
In a Sentence: Hold your horses! We haven’t made a decision yet.
Other Ways to Say: Wait up, Be patient
9. Sit tight
Meaning: Wait patiently without taking action.
In a Sentence: Just sit tight while I talk to the manager.
Other Ways to Say: Hang in there, Stay put
10. In limbo
Meaning: In an uncertain state while waiting for something to happen.
In a Sentence: Our visa status is in limbo while we wait for approval.
Other Ways to Say: Stuck, Undecided
11. At a standstill
Meaning: Not moving forward or progressing.
In a Sentence: Talks between the two companies are at a standstill.
Other Ways to Say: Halted, Frozen
12. On tenterhooks
Meaning: Feeling nervous while waiting for something.
In a Sentence: She was on tenterhooks waiting for her exam results.
Other Ways to Say: Anxiously waiting, Nervous anticipation
13. In a holding pattern
Meaning: A temporary pause in activity.
In a Sentence: The plan is in a holding pattern until we get approval.
Other Ways to Say: On pause, In suspension
14. In the queue
Meaning: Waiting in line for your turn.
In a Sentence: I’m still in the queue for customer support.
Other Ways to Say: Waiting in line, In line
15. Stand by
Meaning: To be ready but not take action yet.
In a Sentence: Please stand by for further instructions.
Other Ways to Say: Wait nearby, Be ready
16. Just around the corner
Meaning: Something is going to happen soon.
In a Sentence: Spring break is just around the corner.
Other Ways to Say: Coming up soon, Near at hand
17. On the edge of your seat
Meaning: Anxiously awaiting something.
In a Sentence: I was on the edge of my seat waiting for the final whistle.
Other Ways to Say: Very eager, Anxiously excited
18. All in good time
Meaning: Things will happen when the time is right.
In a Sentence: You’ll get your promotion—all in good time.
Other Ways to Say: Be patient, It’ll come
19. Play the waiting game
Meaning: Wait calmly and strategically.
In a Sentence: Investors are playing the waiting game before buying stocks.
Other Ways to Say: Wait it out, Hold off
20. Count the days
Meaning: Look forward to something with anticipation.
In a Sentence: She’s counting the days until her wedding.
Other Ways to Say: Eagerly waiting, Looking forward
21. Stuck in a rut
Meaning: Stuck in the same situation while waiting for change.
In a Sentence: I feel stuck in a rut waiting for a new opportunity.
Other Ways to Say: In a loop, Going nowhere
22. Dragging out
Meaning: Taking longer than expected.
In a Sentence: The negotiations are dragging out unnecessarily.
Other Ways to Say: Prolonging, Delaying
23. Whiling away the time
Meaning: Passing time idly.
In a Sentence: I whiled away the time reading a novel.
Other Ways to Say: Killing time, Passing time
24. Await your turn
Meaning: To patiently wait until it’s your time.
In a Sentence: Please await your turn at the reception desk.
Other Ways to Say: Wait in line, Hold your spot
25. Take a number
Meaning: Wait in a queue.
In a Sentence: I had to take a number at the clinic.
Other Ways to Say: Join the line, Wait your turn
26. Hang in the balance
Meaning: Outcome is uncertain, waiting for a decision.
In a Sentence: The future of the deal hangs in the balance.
Other Ways to Say: In suspense, Uncertain
27. A watched pot never boils
Meaning: Time feels longer when you wait for something.
In a Sentence: Stop checking the mail—remember, a watched pot never boils.
Other Ways to Say: Waiting makes time drag, Be patient
28. Cool your heels
Meaning: Forced to wait.
In a Sentence: I had to cool my heels in the waiting room for over an hour.
Other Ways to Say: Be kept waiting, Forced to delay
29. Delay tactics
Meaning: Purposely stalling.
In a Sentence: He used delay tactics to avoid giving a straight answer.
Other Ways to Say: Stalling, Buying time
30. Keep someone waiting
Meaning: To not show up on time.
In a Sentence: I apologize for keeping you waiting.
Other Ways to Say: Delay someone, Make someone wait
31. At a crawl
Meaning: Moving very slowly.
In a Sentence: The traffic was at a crawl all morning.
Other Ways to Say: Slow-moving, Snail-paced
32. Linger on
Meaning: To stay longer while waiting.
In a Sentence: The smell of food lingered on while we waited.
Other Ways to Say: Stay around, Remain
33. In suspense
Meaning: Anxious waiting for news.
In a Sentence: She was left in suspense until the doctor called.
Other Ways to Say: Holding breath, Anxiously waiting
34. Stay tuned
Meaning: Keep waiting for more information.
In a Sentence: Stay tuned for the final results.
Other Ways to Say: Wait and see, Hang on
35. The calm before the storm
Meaning: Peaceful moment before action begins.
In a Sentence: This quiet moment feels like the calm before the storm.
Other Ways to Say: Temporary peace, Pause before action
36. In suspense
Meaning: Left waiting without knowing the outcome.
In a Sentence: I was left in suspense for hours after the interview.
Other Ways to Say: Anxiously waiting, Holding breath
37. In anticipation
Meaning: Looking forward to something.
In a Sentence: They waited in anticipation for the concert to start.
Other Ways to Say: Eagerly waiting, Expecting
38. Time drags on
Meaning: Time seems to pass slowly.
In a Sentence: The meeting was so boring, time just dragged on.
Other Ways to Say: Time crawls, Slow-going
39. To be left hanging
Meaning: Kept waiting without closure.
In a Sentence: I was left hanging after she stopped replying.
Other Ways to Say: Unresolved, Left in limbo
40. On standby
Meaning: Ready and waiting.
In a Sentence: The paramedics were on standby during the event.
Other Ways to Say: Ready to act, Waiting nearby
41. Queue up
Meaning: Get in line and wait.
In a Sentence: People queued up for the new phone launch.
Other Ways to Say: Stand in line, Line up
42. Backlogged
Meaning: Delayed due to pending tasks.
In a Sentence: Orders are backlogged due to supply chain issues.
Other Ways to Say: Delayed, Behind schedule
43. Be on ice
Meaning: To be temporarily set aside.
In a Sentence: The proposal is on ice until next quarter.
Other Ways to Say: Postponed, Delayed
44. Taking forever
Meaning: Taking a very long time.
In a Sentence: The download is taking forever to finish.
Other Ways to Say: Extremely slow, Unending
45. Not in a rush
Meaning: No hurry to act.
In a Sentence: I’m not in a rush—I can wait my turn.
Other Ways to Say: No urgency, Take your time
46. Await further instructions
Meaning: Waiting for next steps.
In a Sentence: The team will await further instructions from the leader.
Other Ways to Say: Standing by, Waiting orders
47. Let it simmer
Meaning: Allow time to pass while considering or waiting.
In a Sentence: Let the idea simmer before you make a decision.
Other Ways to Say: Wait and see, Take your time
48. Wait it out
Meaning: Remain patient through a situation.
In a Sentence: We’ll have to wait it out until the storm passes.
Other Ways to Say: Sit through, Hang tight
49. One step at a time
Meaning: Taking things slowly.
In a Sentence: Let’s solve this one step at a time.
Other Ways to Say: Slowly but surely, Bit by bit
50. Stay in the loop
Meaning: Wait while staying informed.
In a Sentence: I’d like to stay in the loop about any changes.
Other Ways to Say: Stay updated, Be informed
