in the offing
Likely to happen
The phrase originally referred to the part of the sea visible from shore but beyond the anchoring area, suggesting something approaching but not yet arrived.
By the 18th century, it evolved to mean something imminent or likely to happen soon.
A promotion might be in the offing.
Soon to occur
- forthcomingSoon to appear
- upcomingSoon to occur
- approachingComing toward something
- loomingAppearing threateningly close
pending · nearing · brewing · close · near · inevitable · unavoidable · inescapable
Apparent earth-sky meeting
- maritimeOf the sea
- sailingWind-propelled water travel
- shipSeagoing transport vessel
- vesselReceptacle for contents
anchorage · seafaring · mariner · ocean · voyage · yacht · lighthouse · buoy
Belief about future outcomes
- prospectPotential client or opportunity
- outlookAttitude toward the future
- foresightAbility to anticipate futures
- predictionForecast of coming events
forecast · prognosis · likelihood · possibility · potential · promise · hope · chance
impending
Soon to occur
- forthcomingSoon to appear
- upcomingSoon to occur
- approachingComing toward something
looming · pending · nearing · brewing · close · near · inevitable · unavoidable · inescapable · threatening
horizon
Apparent earth-sky meeting
vessel · anchorage · seafaring · mariner · ocean · voyage · yacht · lighthouse · buoy · seascape
expectation
Belief about future outcomes
- prospectPotential client or opportunity
- outlookAttitude toward the future
- foresightAbility to anticipate futures
prediction · forecast · prognosis · likelihood · possibility · potential · promise · hope · chance · preparation
in the offingfar off
At great distance
distant · remote · nowhere near · down the road · on the back burner
in the offingout of the question
Completely impossible to consider
off the table · ruled out · unlikely · improbable · doubtful
in the offingin the past
Previously occurred
present · here and now · long gone · nowhere in sight · at hand