sit tight
Don't budge yet
Sit tight means to wait patiently without taking action, often while expecting something to happen or resolve itself: Sit tight—I'll be back in five minutes.
The phrase suggests staying put and not making moves that might complicate a situation: The lawyer advised us to sit tight until we heard from the court.
Delay until later
- enduranceSustained effort capacity
- fortitudeEnduring courage under pain
- composureEmotional self-control
- steadfastnessFirm loyal dedication
calmness · self-control · perseverance · tolerance · equanimity · serenity · restraint · stoicism
Temporary cessation of activity
- holdMaintain in grasp
- delayEnforced waiting period
- standbyReady substitute awaiting use
- freezeBecome solid from cold
halt · stay · hesitate · stall · idle · holding pattern · suspended · on ice
Active mental awareness
- watchfulnessCareful, sustained attention
- awarenessState of perceiving reality
- attentivenessConcentrated awareness of surroundings
- guardWatchful defensive attention
lookout · caution · readiness · preparedness · observation · standing by · on call · poised
Belief about future outcomes
- suspenseAnxious uncertainty about outcomes
- eagernessIntense willingness to act
- excitementState of eager enthusiasm
- apprehensionNervous anticipation of trouble
readiness · countdown · prospect · preparation · hope · tension · buildup · edge of seat
wait
Delay until later
- enduranceSustained effort capacity
- fortitudeEnduring courage under pain
- composureEmotional self-control
steadfastness · calmness · self-control · perseverance · tolerance · equanimity · serenity · restraint · stoicism · imperturbability
pause
Temporary cessation of activity
freeze · halt · stay · hesitate · stall · idle · holding pattern · suspended · on ice · limbo
alertness
Active mental awareness
- watchfulnessCareful, sustained attention
- awarenessState of perceiving reality
- attentivenessConcentrated awareness of surroundings
guard · lookout · caution · readiness · preparedness · observation · standing by · on call · poised · at the ready
expectation
Belief about future outcomes
- suspenseAnxious uncertainty about outcomes
- eagernessIntense willingness to act
- excitementState of eager enthusiasm
apprehension · readiness · countdown · prospect · preparation · hope · tension · buildup · edge of seat · bated breath
- doing nothingdo nothing, stand still, stay put, keep still, hold back
- waitingwait, await, bide, hold on, hang on
- patience phraseswait, hold on, just a minute, one moment, one second
- relaxationrelax, naps, break, rest, calm
- commandsgo, stop, wait, come, run
- hidinghide, conceal, take cover, hole up, hunker down
sit tightact
Deed or performance
take action · spring into action · make a move · intervene · do something
sit tightpanic
Uncontrollable sudden fear
jump the gun · rush · lose patience · fidget · lose one's cool
sit, tight, situation, sitting, tighten, seating, sits, sitter, tightness