Waiting can sometimes feel like watching paint dry or time dragging on. But did you know there are fun expressions called idioms that describe this feeling? Idioms are phrases with hidden meanings. They make our language colorful and interesting.
In this article, we’ll explore idioms for waiting and try a fun exercise to practice them. Let’s dive in and make waiting a bit more amusing!
Idioms for Waiting
1. Biting nails
Meaning: Feeling nervous or anxious while waiting for something.
In a Sentence: Jane was biting her nails while waiting for the test results.
Other Ways to Say: Chewing nails, Nibbling on nails
2. 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
3. Drumming fingers
Meaning: Tapping fingers on a surface impatient while waiting.
In a Sentence: Jack drummed his fingers on the table as he waited for the bus.
Other Ways to Say: Tapping impatiently, Finger drumming
4. 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
5. Holding one’s breath
Meaning: Waiting anxiously for something to happen, often with excitement or anticipation.
In a Sentence: The audience was holding their breath as the magician performed his final trick.
Other Ways to Say: Waiting with bated breath, Breathlessly anticipating
6. Sitting on pins and needles
Meaning: Feeling very nervous or anxious while waiting for something to happen.
In a Sentence: Maria was sitting on pins and needles as she waited for the interview results.
Other Ways to Say: On tenterhooks, Anxiously awaiting
7. Killing time
Meaning: Engaging in an activity to pass the time while waiting for something else.
In a Sentence: We played board games to kill time while waiting for the rain to stop.
Other Ways to Say: Passing time, Occupying oneself
8. Counting down the minutes
Meaning: Waiting anxiously for an event or activity to start.
In a Sentence: The children were counting down the minutes until the start of the school play.
Other Ways to Say: Watching the clock, Eagerly awaiting
9. Playing the waiting game
Meaning: Being patient and waiting for something to happen or someone to arrive.
In a Sentence: Jim was playing the waiting game while his car was being repaired.
Other Ways to Say: Patience is a virtue, Waiting patiently
10. Champing at the bit
Meaning: Being eager and impatient to start or do something.
In a Sentence: The athletes were champing at the bit to begin the race.
Other Ways to Say: Raring to go, Eager anticipation
11. Dragging one’s feet
Meaning: Delaying or procrastinating rather than moving forward or making a decision.
In a Sentence: The team was dragging their feet on deciding on the project.
Other Ways to Say: Procrastinating, Stalling
12. Watching grass grow
Meaning: Feeling bored because something is taking a long time to happen.
In a Sentence: Waiting for the movie to start felt like watching grass grow.
Other Ways to Say: Slow as molasses, As slow as a snail
13. Slow as molasses
Meaning: Very slow or sluggish.
In a Sentence: The line at the grocery store was moving as slow as molasses.
Other Ways to Say: Slower than a turtle, Like watching paint dry
14. Hanging by a thread
Meaning: Being in a precarious or uncertain situation, with the outcome uncertain.
In a Sentence: The team’s chances of winning were hanging by a thread until the last minute.
Other Ways to Say: On thin ice, Teetering on the brink
15. Waiting with bated breath
Meaning: Waiting with great anticipation or excitement.
In a Sentence: The fans waited with bated breath for the concert to begin.
Other Ways to Say: Eagerly anticipating, Waiting on pins and needles
16. Running out the clock
Meaning: Deliberately taking action to use up time, especially to avoid a difficult situation.
In a Sentence: The lawyer was accused of running out the clock during the trial.
Other Ways to Say: Delaying tactics, Stretching out time
17. Ants in one’s pants
Meaning: Feeling restless or impatient, unable to sit still.
In a Sentence: The children had ants in their pants as they waited for the party to start.
Other Ways to Say: Fidgety, Restless energy
18. Waiting for the other shoe to drop
Meaning: Anticipating something else, typically negative, to happen following an initial event.
In a Sentence: After losing his job, he was waiting for the other shoe to drop and expecting his car to break down.
Other Ways to Say: Expecting the worst, Waiting for bad news
19. Time standing still
Meaning: Feeling as though time has stopped or is moving very slowly.
In a Sentence: As she waited for the exam results, time stood still.
Other Ways to Say: Time seemed to freeze Like time had stopped
20. Jumping the gun
Meaning: Acting prematurely or ahead of time without waiting for the appropriate moment.
In a Sentence: He jumped the gun and started celebrating before he won the race.
Other Ways to Say: Acting too soon, Premature action
21. Waiting in the wings
Meaning: Being prepared or ready to take action or replace someone if needed.
In a Sentence: The understudy was waiting in the wings in case the lead actor fell ill.
Other Ways to Say: On standby, Ready to step in
22. Nose pressed to the window
Meaning: Watching eagerly for something to happen, typically from a distance.
In a Sentence: The children had their noses pressed to the window, waiting for the ice cream truck.
Other Ways to Say: Peering out the window, Eagerly watching
23. Sweating bullets
Meaning: Feeling extremely nervous or anxious, often due to waiting for something important or stressful.
In a Sentence: He was sweating bullets as he waited for the interview to start.
Other Ways to Say: Nervous wreck, Anxious as a cat
24. Ticking away the seconds
Meaning: Passing time, typically in a slow or uneventful manner.
In a Sentence: She sat in the waiting room, ticking away the seconds until her name was called.
Other Ways to Say: Passing the time, Waiting patiently
25. Clocking-watching like a hawk
Meaning: Vigilantly and obsessively monitoring the time, often due to eagerness or impatience.
In a Sentence: He was clock-watching like a hawk, eager for the school bell to ring.
Other Ways to Say: Watching the clock closely, Keeping an eye on the time
Exercise to Practice
- I was __________ for my friend’s call to confirm our plans for the movie night.
- The students were __________ for the school bell to ring so they could go home for the weekend.
- The family was __________ for their vacation trip to Disneyland.
- Sarah is __________ for her parents to arrive home with her birthday present.
- The football fans are __________ for the game to start.
- The little girl was __________ for her birthday party to begin.
- The commuters were __________ for the delayed train to arrive at the station.
- The campers were __________ for the rain to stop so they could start their outdoor activities.
- The audience was __________ for the concert to begin.
- The students were __________ for their teacher to return their graded tests.
Answers:
- Waiting with bated breath
- Counting down the minutes
- Itching for
- On pins and needles
- Champing at the bit
- Jumping out of their skin
- Twiddling their thumbs
- Drumming their fingers
- Itching to get started
- Holding their breath
Conclusion
Idioms add fun and color to our language, especially when describing the experience of waiting. By learning and using idioms, we can express our feelings in creative ways.
So next time you find yourself waiting eagerly for something, remember these idioms and make waiting a little more interesting!