ENGLISH
REFERENCE

wait in the wings

idiom
Meaning

To be about to become important or central.


Examples
SIMPLE

The new manager is waiting in the wings.

CONTEXTUAL

While the current director finishes his term, his successor is waiting in the wings to take over.

COMPLEX

With the aging monarch showing signs of fatigue, the ambitious prince waits in the wings, ready to claim the throne at a moment's notice.

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

    clip someone's wings

    To restrict someone's freedom.

  3. 03

    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.

  4. 04

    if pigs had wings

    Never.

  5. 05

    singe one's wings

    To sustain harm, loss or ruin by doing some risky or perilous deed.

  6. 06

    spread one's wings

    To experiment in life; to find out what one is capable of; to try new things or activities.

  7. 07

    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.

  8. 08

    wait for Godot

    To wait hopelessly.

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