we shall see
Time will tell
A response that defers judgment or commitment until future events clarify things.
It can signal genuine uncertainty: Will the treatment work? We shall see.
Often it carries a note of skepticism or warning—a parent saying we shall see to a child's request usually means probably not.
The phrase can also hint that time will vindicate the speaker's doubts.
- maybeExpression of uncertainty
- perhapsExpressing uncertainty
- uncertainNot firmly known
- waitDelay until later
- timeMeasured passage of moments
only time will tell · patience · future · time will tell · doubt · hesitation · outcome · mystery · suspense · up in the air · wonder · possibility · pending · undecided · fate · tomorrow · crystal ball · remains
- Noncommittalneutral, undecided, on the fence, noncommittal, indifferent
- patience phraseswait, hold on, just a minute, one moment, one second
- Possibilitymaybe, perhaps, possibly, could, might
we shall seeI promise
Solemn personal commitment
absolutely · definitely · guaranteed · count on it · without a doubt
we shall seeno doubt about it
inevitably · undoubtedly · beyond question · mark my words · unquestionably
shall, see, seen, seeing, sees, seer, seers, sightly, unsightly