bide your time
/ˌbaɪd jɔː ˈtaɪm/NEUTRAL · C1
Meaning
to wait patiently for a suitable opportunity to act
Examples
- 1Rather than accept the first offer, Ella decided to bide her time until a better job appeared.
- 2We are biding our time until the flat we really want becomes available.
- 3Instead of interrupting, he chose to bide his time until the discussion reached his subject.
- 4The photographer bided her time, waiting quietly until the shy bird emerged.
- 5Do not make an offer yet; bide your time until the seller is ready to negotiate.
Grammar
Bide changes form: bides, bided, biding. Match the possessive your to the subject.
Similar in meaning
More idioms about time
All 20 idioms and the topic quiz →the time of your lifean exceptionally enjoyable experiencein the nick of timejust before it becomes too latebetter late than neverdoing something late is preferable to not doing ittime fliesthe hours or years seem to pass surprisingly quicklyat the drop of a hatimmediately and with very little encouragementat the eleventh hourat the last possible moment before a deadline
English Idioms400 idioms in 20 topics — with reviews that keep them from fading
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