bide one's time, to
bide one's time
to wait patiently. I've been biding my time for years, just waiting for a chance like this. He's not the type just to sit there and bide his time. He wants some action now.
See also: bide, time
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
bide one's time
Wait for the opportune moment, as in The cat sat in front of the mousehole, biding its time. This phrase employs the verb to bide in the sense of "to wait for," a usage dating from about a.d. 950 and surviving mainly in this locution.
See also: bide, time
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
bide (one's) time
To wait for further developments.
See also: bide, time
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition.
bide one's time, to
To wait for the right moment to speak or take action. The verb to bide, meaning “to wait for” since about the year 950, survives today only in this cliché. Frederick W. Robertson used the expression in a sermon (1853): “They bide their time and suddenly represent themselves.”
See also: bide
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer
- (it's) (a)bout time
- about time
- bout
- at no time
- any time means no time
- against time
- against the clock
- any time
- (it's) time to run
- anytime