be waiting for the other shoe to drop
be waiting for the other shoe to drop
To be waiting for the next, seemingly unavoidable thing to happen. This phrase often has a negative connotation. 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, waiting
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
be waiting for the other shoe to drop
AMERICAN, INFORMALIf you are waiting for the other shoe to drop, one very bad thing has already happened and you are expecting another bad thing to happen soon. People are already on edge, and they're waiting for the other shoe to drop. Note: The idea in this expression is that you almost never hear only one footstep; another usually follows.
See also: drop, other, shoe, waiting
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.
- wait for the other shoe to drop
- be holding (one's) breath
- be holding your breath
- follow the crowd
- follow/go with the crowd
- go with the crowd
- be at (one's) beck and call
- be at someone's beck and call
- center of attention
- the center of attention