wait for the other shoe to drop
Related to wait for the other shoe to drop: drop the other shoe
wait for the other shoe to drop
To wait for the next, seemingly unavoidable (and typically negative) thing to happen. Mom said that Dad would punish us when he got home from work, so now we're just waiting for the other shoe to drop.
See also: drop, other, shoe, wait
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
wait for the other shoe to drop
Fig. to wait for the inevitable next step or the final conclusion. He just opened his mail and moaned. Now, I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop when he finds the subpoena.
See also: drop, other, shoe, wait
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
wait for the other shoe to drop
Await a seemingly inevitable event, as in Now that she has a good enough job to leave her husband, we're just waiting for the other shoe to drop . This expression alludes to a person awakened by a neighbor who loudly dropped one shoe on the floor and is waiting for the second shoe to be dropped. [Early 1900s]
See also: drop, other, shoe, wait
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
wait for the other shoe to drop
wait for the next or final thing to happen. North AmericanSee also: drop, other, shoe, wait
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
wait for the other shoe to drop
Slang To defer action or decision until another matter is finished or resolved.
See also: drop, other, shoe, wait
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition.
- be waiting for the other shoe to drop
- be/come down on somebody like a ton of bricks
- be down on (one) like a ton of bricks
- come down on (one) like a ton of bricks
- come down on someone like a ton of bricks
- death and taxes
- can't help it
- be staring (one) in the face
- be staring someone in the face
- (as) sure as death and taxes