cooling one's heels
Stuck in limbo
To cool one's heels is to wait, especially when forced to wait by someone else's delay or indifference.
The phrase suggests impatient idleness—standing around long enough for feet that were hurrying to grow cold: I spent an hour cooling my heels in the waiting room before anyone acknowledged me.
- lobbyEntryway or influence-seeking
- impatienceIntolerance of delay
- postponementDelaying to later
- anticipationState of awaiting something
- stallingIntentional delay tactics
queue · holding pattern · waiting room · frustration · boredom · deferment · lingering · pause · reception area · expectation · intermission · left hanging · hurry up and wait · killing time · time to kill · doctor's office · restlessness · hiatus