bided one's time
Held off acting
To bide one's time is to wait patiently for the right moment to act.
The phrase suggests deliberate restraint rather than passive waiting—you're holding back until circumstances favor you: She bided her time, knowing the opportunity would come.
The past tense bided appears almost exclusively in this expression; elsewhere bide has largely disappeared from modern English.
- foresightAbility to anticipate futures
- delayEnforced waiting period
- held backKept from advancing
- enduranceSustained effort capacity
- calculationMathematical problem-solving process
occasion · restraint · waiting game · lying in wait · sitting tight · perseverance · slow burn · fortitude · steadiness · deliberation · composure · preparation · readiness · tolerance · prudence · scheming · plotting · anticipation