ENGLISH
REFERENCE

wait for Godot

idiom
Meaning

To wait hopelessly.


Origin

disputed origin

Refers to the surreal comic play Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett, in which two tramps engage in a variety of discussions and encounters while awaiting "Godot", who never arrives.

Examples
SIMPLE

Don't wait for Godot; he is never coming.

CONTEXTUAL

We sat in the empty office for hours waiting for Godot, knowing the manager would never actually arrive.

COMPLEX

The villagers continued their futile vigil, waiting for Godot, despite the clear evidence that their promised savior had long since abandoned them.

Anchors to
Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    can't wait

    To eagerly anticipate; to find it hard to wait for a forthcoming pleasurable event.

  2. 02

    hurry up and wait

    To hurry to complete a task or arrive at a destination by a specified time, only for nothing to happen, due to other requirements that have yet to be satisfied.

  3. 03

    wait around

    To spend an especially lengthy period of time inactively, while expecting the arrival of someone or while anticipating some other event, often impatiently and often without a satisfactory outcome.

  4. 04

    wait for it

    Used to draw attention to and build suspense, often ironically, for a remark to come.

  5. 05

    wait for the ball to drop

    To wait in expectation of an occurrence.

  6. 06

    wait for the dust to settle

    To let a situation calm down, become clear or certain, before taking any action.

  7. 07

    wait for the other shoe to drop

    To defer action or decision until another matter is finished or resolved.

  8. 08

    wait in the wings

    To be about to become important or central.

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