biding one's time
Waiting for opportunity
Biding one's time means waiting patiently for the right moment to act.
The phrase implies strategic restraint rather than passive delay—someone biding their time is alert and ready, just holding back: She's biding her time until the job opens up.
The verb bide rarely appears outside this expression in modern English.
- opportunismExploiting circumstances for gain
- planningArranging for future events
- waiting gameStrategy of deliberate delay
- restraintControl over impulses
- patienceCalm during delays
forbearance · lying in wait · vigilance · foresight · calculation · readiness · preparedness · tactics · deliberation · calmness · right moment · expectation · prudence · preparation · alertness · discretion · watchfulness · holding back
biding one's timepushing forward
Continuing toward a goal
overplaying one's hand · throwing caution to the wind · going all in · escalating · burning bridges
biding one's timelosing patience
flying off the handle · losing one's cool · snapping · panicking
bide, biding, bided, bides, time, times, timed, timing, timer