Waiting can feel really hard sometimes. Maybe you’re waiting for your turn on the swings, or you’re looking at the clock during a long car ride. It’s not always fun, but people wait every day. When we talk about waiting, we don’t always just say, “I’m waiting.” There are fun and smart phrases called idioms that help us explain how we feel while waiting.
Idioms are sayings that mean something different than the words’ sound. They help us talk in a more colorful way. This article will show you idioms people use when they are waiting. You’ll learn what each one means, how to use it in a sentence, and some examples that are easy to understand. Let’s get started and learn some new ways to talk about waiting.
Idioms for Waiting
1. On pins and needles
Meaning: Feeling nervous or excited while waiting.
Within a Sentence: I was on pins and needles before my name was called. / She sat on pins and needles waiting for the game to start.
In Other Words: Feeling jumpy / Nervous while waiting
2. Watch the clock
Meaning: Keep looking at the time because you’re waiting.
Within a Sentence: I watched the clock during the last five minutes of class. / He kept watching the clock before lunch.
In Other Words: Keep checking the time / Wait anxiously
3. Time drags on
Meaning: Time feels really slow while waiting.
Within a Sentence: Time dragged on while waiting at the doctor’s office. / The minutes felt long as I waited for the bus.
In Other Words: Feels slow / Takes forever
4. Killing time
Meaning: Doing something to pass the time while waiting.
Within a Sentence: We played cards to kill time before dinner. / I read a book to kill time at the airport.
In Other Words: Pass the time / Stay busy while waiting
5. Bide your time
Meaning: Wait calmly for the right moment.
Within a Sentence: I bided my time until it was my turn to speak. / He bided his time before asking the question.
In Other Words: Wait patiently / Hold off
6. Hold your horses
Meaning: Be patient and wait.
Within a Sentence: Hold your horses! We’ll leave in five minutes. / Mom said to hold our horses while she finished the call.
In Other Words: Wait a moment / Be calm
7. Just around the corner
Meaning: Something is going to happen soon.
Within a Sentence: Summer break is just around the corner. / The birthday party is just around the corner.
In Other Words: Almost here / Very close
8. Wait it out
Meaning: Stay and wait until something is over.
Within a Sentence: We waited it out during the rainstorm. / She waited it out until the noise stopped.
In Other Words: Be patient / Stay through it
9. Hang tight
Meaning: Wait patiently.
Within a Sentence: Hang tight, the show will start soon. / He told me to hang tight until the bell rang.
In Other Words: Wait calmly / Stay put
10. All in good time
Meaning: Everything will happen when it’s supposed to.
Within a Sentence: Don’t worry, you’ll get your turn all in good time. / All in good time, she said about the results.
In Other Words: Be patient / It’ll happen soon
11. Wait and see
Meaning: Stay patient and find out what happens.
Within a Sentence: Let’s wait and see if it snows tomorrow. / You’ll have to wait and see if you made the team.
In Other Words: Be patient / Time will tell
12. At a standstill
Meaning: Nothing is happening; everything is paused.
Within a Sentence: The line was at a standstill for 10 minutes. / Traffic was at a standstill before the parade.
In Other Words: Not moving / On hold
13. Beat the clock
Meaning: Try to do something before time runs out.
Within a Sentence: I raced to beat the clock and finish my quiz. / She beat the clock by turning in her paper early.
In Other Words: Hurry / Finish before time’s up
14. In the meantime
Meaning: What happens while waiting for something else.
Within a Sentence: In the meantime, we played outside. / She colored a picture in the meantime.
In Other Words: While waiting / For now
15. Take a rain check
Meaning: Postpone something to do it later.
Within a Sentence: Can I take a rain check on the movie? / He took a rain check on the game night.
In Other Words: Do it later / Try another time
16. In the queue
Meaning: Waiting in line for your turn.
Within a Sentence: I’m in the queue to get lunch. / We waited in the queue for roller coasters.
In Other Words: In line / Waiting for turn
17. Wait your turn
Meaning: Be patient until it’s time for you.
Within a Sentence: You have to wait your turn on the slide. / He waited his turn to answer.
In Other Words: Be patient / Line up
18. Mark time
Meaning: Doing little or nothing while waiting.
Within a Sentence: We marked time until the teacher came. / He marked time by doodling.
In Other Words: Waste time / Pass time slowly
19. Tread water
Meaning: Not making progress while waiting.
Within a Sentence: We were treading water waiting for a ride. / She felt like she was treading water before summer started.
In Other Words: Just staying in place / Waiting
20. In limbo
Meaning: Waiting without knowing what’s next.
Within a Sentence: Our plans were in limbo until it stopped raining. / I was in limbo while waiting for my test scores.
In Other Words: Stuck / Unsure what’s next
21. Killing me softly
Meaning: Waiting is very hard or annoying.
Within a Sentence: The wait for pizza was killing me softly. / This long line is killing me softly.
In Other Words: So boring / So hard to wait
22. Bated breath
Meaning: Waiting very carefully and quietly.
Within a Sentence: We waited with bated breath for the winner’s name. / She held bated breath before her turn.
In Other Words: Quiet and excited / Nervous wait
23. Hold the line
Meaning: Stay in place and wait.
Within a Sentence: Please hold the line until we call you. / They told us to hold the line at the office.
In Other Words: Stay waiting / Don’t move
24. Just killing time
Meaning: Doing anything to make time go by.
Within a Sentence: We were just killing time before practice. / I watched TV just to kill time.
In Other Words: Passing time / Filling the wait
25. Dragging your feet
Meaning: Moving slowly on purpose.
Within a Sentence: He was dragging his feet about cleaning up. / I dragged my feet getting ready for bed.
In Other Words: Going slow / Not ready yet
26. Hold off
Meaning: Wait before doing something.
Within a Sentence: Let’s hold off on the game until everyone’s here. / I held off eating until Mom came home.
In Other Words: Wait a bit / Pause
27. Sitting tight
Meaning: Staying still and waiting.
Within a Sentence: We sat tight while the teacher talked. / He told us to sit tight for a surprise.
In Other Words: Be still / Wait here
28. Take five
Meaning: Take a short break.
Within a Sentence: Let’s take five before math class. / The coach said to take five after practice.
In Other Words: Quick rest / Short wait
29. Slow as molasses
Meaning: Moving very slowly.
Within a Sentence: The line was slow as molasses. / That old computer is slow as molasses.
In Other Words: Very slow / Feels like forever
30. Play the waiting game
Meaning: Wait without rushing, even if it’s boring.
Within a Sentence: We played the waiting game at the doctor’s office. / Waiting for news was like playing the waiting game.
In Other Words: Keep waiting / Wait a long time
31. Wait in the wings
Meaning: Ready to do something, but waiting for your turn.
Within a Sentence: She was waiting in the wings for her chance to sing. / The next team was waiting in the wings.
In Other Words: Almost ready / Standing by
32. A long haul
Meaning: A wait or task that takes a lot of time.
Within a Sentence: It’s a long haul until summer break. / Cleaning the garage was a long haul.
In Other Words: Takes time / Not quick
33. Count the minutes
Meaning: Watch the clock and wish time would go faster.
Within a Sentence: I counted the minutes until recess. / He was counting the minutes before the bell.
In Other Words: Wish it would hurry / Watching time pass
34. Time stands still
Meaning: It feels like time has stopped.
Within a Sentence: Time stood still while we waited for the surprise. / It felt like time stood still at the dentist.
In Other Words: Feels frozen / So slow
35. Wait forever
Meaning: The wait feels way too long.
Within a Sentence: It felt like I had to wait forever for my turn. / She said waiting for cookies takes forever.
In Other Words: So long / Seems endless
36. Clock is ticking
Meaning: Time is running out.
Within a Sentence: Hurry up, the clock is ticking! / The clock was ticking before the test ended.
In Other Words: Time’s almost up / Don’t wait too long
37. At the last minute
Meaning: Doing something right before time runs out.
Within a Sentence: I packed at the last minute. / He finished his homework at the last minute.
In Other Words: Right before / Just in time
38. Cool your heels
Meaning: Wait patiently, often longer than you want.
Within a Sentence: I had to cool my heels in the office. / She cooled her heels waiting for a ride.
In Other Words: Wait quietly / Be patient
39. On hold
Meaning: Something is paused or delayed.
Within a Sentence: Our trip is on hold because of the weather. / The game was on hold during the storm.
In Other Words: Delayed / Stopped for now
40. At the crack of dawn
Meaning: Very early in the morning.
Within a Sentence: We waited in line at the crack of dawn. / He woke up at the crack of dawn for the show.
In Other Words: Really early / First thing in the morning
41. Not a moment to lose
Meaning: Something needs to happen right away.
Within a Sentence: We had not a moment to lose before the doors closed. / There’s not a moment to lose before lunch.
In Other Words: Hurry / No time left
42. Take your sweet time
Meaning: Move very slowly, sometimes too slowly.
Within a Sentence: He took his sweet time getting ready. / Don’t take your sweet time or we’ll be late!
In Other Words: Go slow / Not in a rush
43. Coming down the line
Meaning: Something will happen soon.
Within a Sentence: More tests are coming down the line. / Big changes are coming down the line at school.
In Other Words: Will happen later / Soon to come
44. Time flies
Meaning: Time goes by quickly.
Within a Sentence: Time flies when you’re having fun. / It felt like time flew during recess.
In Other Words: Time passes fast / Goes by quickly
45. Right around the bend
Meaning: Happening soon or nearby.
Within a Sentence: Spring break is right around the bend. / The bus stop is just around the bend.
In Other Words: Coming soon / Nearby
46. Stretching it out
Meaning: Making something take longer than it needs to.
Within a Sentence: She stretched it out just to avoid doing chores. / He’s stretching out bedtime again.
In Other Words: Taking extra time / Delaying on purpose
47. Hurry up and wait
Meaning: Rush to get ready, then have to wait anyway.
Within a Sentence: We hurried to the game, then had to wait. / It was all hurry up and wait at the airport.
In Other Words: Rushed for nothing / Waited after rushing
48. Pass the time
Meaning: Do something while waiting.
Within a Sentence: I passed the time drawing. / We passed the time by playing a game.
In Other Words: Stay busy / Not bored while waiting
49. Waiting game
Meaning: A long wait where nothing happens.
Within a Sentence: It was a waiting game at the dentist’s office. / We played the waiting game until the rain stopped.
In Other Words: Just wait / Nothing to do
50. Waited ages
Meaning: It felt like a really long time.
Within a Sentence: We waited ages for our food. / I waited ages to use the swings.
In Other Words: So long / Felt forever
51. Count the seconds
Meaning: Waiting with a lot of impatience.
Within a Sentence: I counted the seconds until the movie started. / He was counting the seconds for pizza.
In Other Words: Really impatient / Can’t wait
52. Up next
Meaning: Your turn is coming soon.
Within a Sentence: You’re up next for the spelling bee. / She was up next to read aloud.
In Other Words: Almost your turn / Get ready
53. Wait for it
Meaning: Something exciting or surprising is about to happen.
Within a Sentence: Wait for it… now! / Wait for it, and you’ll see the magic trick.
In Other Words: Just a second / Almost there
54. The final stretch
Meaning: The last part before something ends.
Within a Sentence: We’re in the final stretch of the school year. / It’s the final stretch of the race.
In Other Words: Almost done / Near the end
55. At the ready
Meaning: Waiting and prepared to go.
Within a Sentence: The team was at the ready for the game. / She was at the ready to answer.
In Other Words: Prepared / Standing by
56. Waiting by the phone
Meaning: Waiting to hear news or get a message.
Within a Sentence: I was waiting by the phone for the results. / He waited by the phone to hear from Grandma.
In Other Words: Hoping for a call / Expecting news
57. Wait for the green light
Meaning: Wait for permission to do something.
Within a Sentence: We had to wait for the green light before starting. / Don’t move until you get the green light.
In Other Words: Wait for “go” / Wait for approval
58. Take its course
Meaning: Let something happen at its own speed.
Within a Sentence: We let the game take its course. / The day took its course slowly.
In Other Words: Let time pass / Go naturally
59. Still waiting
Meaning: The wait is not over yet.
Within a Sentence: I’m still waiting for my snack. / We’re still waiting for the teacher to return.
In Other Words: It’s not done / Keep waiting
60. Waiting pays off
Meaning: Good things can happen if you’re patient.
Within a Sentence: Waiting paid off we got front row seats! / Her waiting paid off when she won the prize.
In Other Words: Worth the wait / Patience works
Idioms for Waiting – True/False Quiz
- “On pins and needles” means someone feels calm and sleepy.
True / False - If you are “watching the clock,” it means you are checking the time while waiting.
True / False - “Kill time” means to do something fun instead of waiting.
True / False - If you are told to “hold your horses,” you should run faster.
True / False - “Just around the corner” means something is far away and not happening soon.
True / False - “Sit tight” means you should wait without moving.
True / False - “Time flies” means time feels really slow.
True / False - If someone says “wait your turn,” it means to go first.
True / False - “Wait it out” means to leave before something is over.
True / False - When someone says “the clock is ticking,” it means time is running out.
True / False - “Take a rain check” means to do something now, no matter what.
True / False - If you are “in the queue,” you are waiting in line.
True / False - “Cool your heels” means to stay calm and wait, even if it’s boring.
True / False - “Up next” means your turn is coming soon.
True / False - “Waiting pays off” means that being patient can lead to something good.
True / False
Answer Key
- False
- True
- True
- False
- False
- True
- False
- False
- False
- True
- False
- True
- True
- True
- True
Scoring Guide
- 15 Correct Answers: Idioms Master!
- 10–14 Correct Answers: You really get Idioms, nice work!
- 6–9 Correct Answers: You’re learning, keep going!
- 0–5 Correct Answers: Let’s learn about Idioms together!
Conclusion
Waiting happens all the time. Whether it’s in line, for a holiday, or for a surprise, it’s a part of life. These idioms help us talk about waiting in fun and interesting ways. They make it easier to share how we feel when time seems slow.
Now that you know many waiting idioms, try using them with your friends, family, or even in writing. The more you use them, the more natural they’ll feel. Keep learning, and soon you’ll sound like a real idiom expert!
