Imagine how good it would feel to sit peacefully in a bustling café, your coffee growing cold, as you wait for a friend who is running late. This is the power of patience, a virtue that can be beautifully expressed through language. But, do you have the words to express it? Are you ready to discover idioms that can add color and depth to your understanding of patience?
With that in mind, let’s dive into 23 of the most popular English idioms related to patience. Each of these expressions will help you speak about patience like a native speaker:
1. Cool one’s heels: To wait or be kept waiting.
Example: I cooled my heels in the lobby while waiting for the interview.
2. Hold your horses: Wait a moment; be patient.
Example: Hold your horses, the bus is about to arrive.
3. Play a waiting game: Wait for something to happen before making a decision.
Example: She’s playing a waiting game to see if the prices will drop.
4. Bide one’s time: Wait patiently for a good opportunity to do something.
Example: He’s just biding his time until the perfect job comes along.
5. Patience of Job: To have a lot of patience, as Job did in the Bible.
Example: You need the patience of Job to deal with so many questions.
6. Keep one’s shirt on: Stay patient and calm down.
Example: Keep your shirt on, the food will be ready soon.
7. Wait on hand and foot: To constantly serve someone or attend to their needs.
Example: She waits on her kids hand and foot.
8. In the fullness of time: Eventually, after a long wait.
Example: In the fullness of time, he finally received the recognition he deserved.
9. As slow as molasses in January: Very slow.
Example: The internet connection at the cafe is as slow as molasses in January.
10. Slow and steady wins the race: Consistent, effective effort leads to success.
Example: She worked slow and steady and eventually completed the project before the deadline.
11. Rome wasn’t built in a day: Great things take time to create.
Example: Don’t rush the painting, Rome wasn’t built in a day.
12. Watched pot never boils: Time seems to pass very slowly when you are waiting for something to happen.
Example: Waiting for her reply was like a watched pot, it never seemed to come.
13. Slow as a snail: Something or someone that moves very slowly.
Example: The traffic in the city center is slow as a snail.
14. Slow but sure: Progressing slowly yet achieving the desired result eventually.
Example: His progress in math was slow but sure.
15. Don’t count your chickens before they hatch: Don’t assume something will happen until it has happened.
Example: He’s already planning his celebration, but I told him not to count his chickens before they hatch.
16. At a snail’s pace: Very slowly.
Example: The project advanced at a snail’s pace.
17. Bite your tongue: To avoid talking.
Example: When the controversial topic came up, she had to bite her tongue.
18. Hold your peace: Keep silent despite wanting to voice an opinion.
Example: During the heated meeting, he decided to hold his peace.
19. All in good time: Everything will happen when the time is right.
Example: All in good time, my friend, your hard work will pay off.
20. Easy come, easy go: Things obtained easily may also be lost easily.
Example: He won the lottery but spent it all in a month – easy come, easy go.
21. Good things come to those who wait: Being patient can bring rewards.
Example: She waited years to get promoted. Good things come to those who wait.
22. In the long run: In the end; over a long period of time.
Example: The project may seem challenging now, but it will be worth it in the long run.
23. Like watching paint dry: Extremely boring or slow.
Example: Waiting for his reply was like watching paint dry.
In conclusion, English idioms related to patience are a wonderful way to enrich your vocabulary and understand cultural nuances. They can add color, express emotions, and convey meanings that literal language may not capture as vividly. So the next time you find yourself waiting, remember, good things come to those who wait! Patience is truly a virtue, especially when it comes to language learning.