Patience is often described as a virtue, and in the English language, it’s also a quality that has inspired countless idiomatic expressions. Idioms are colorful phrases that don’t always mean what the words literally suggest, but they add richness, character, and cultural depth to communication.
For English learners, idioms about patience are particularly useful because they help express emotions and situations where waiting, tolerance, and calmness are required.
From calming down in stressful times to describing endless waiting, idioms for patience allow you to speak in a more natural and expressive way.
Instead of simply saying “be patient,” you can use phrases like “good things come to those who wait” or “hold your horses,” which sound more native and engaging.
By learning these expressions, you’ll not only improve your fluency but also connect more closely with everyday English conversations.
Did You Know?
The phrase “patience is a virtue” dates back to the 14th century and was first found in a Middle English poem. Over time, it became one of the most widely repeated proverbs in the English-speaking world, reminding us that waiting calmly often leads to better outcomes.
Idioms About Being Patient in Daily Life
Hold Your Horses
Meaning: Wait or slow down.
Example: “Hold your horses, we’ll leave when everyone is ready.”
Alternative: Wait a minute.
Note: Commonly used in informal, everyday speech.
Good Things Come to Those Who Wait
Meaning: Patience brings rewards.
Example: “She studied for years, but good things come to those who wait—she finally got her dream job.”
Alternative: Patience pays off.
Note: Often used to encourage someone to stay patient.
Take It Easy
Meaning: Relax and don’t rush.
Example: “Take it easy, the results will come when the time is right.”
Alternative: Chill out.
Note: Informal, used in friendly conversations.
Rome Wasn’t Built in a Day
Meaning: Great things take time.
Example: “Learning English is tough, but Rome wasn’t built in a day.”
Alternative: Step by step.
Note: Often used in educational and motivational contexts.
Hang in There
Meaning: Stay strong and patient during challenges.
Example: “Hang in there, your efforts will pay off soon.”
Alternative: Keep going.
Note: Encouragement, mostly informal.
Wait and See
Meaning: Be patient and observe the outcome.
Example: “Don’t panic yet, let’s wait and see what happens.”
Alternative: Time will tell.
Note: Used both formally and informally.
Slow and Steady Wins the Race
Meaning: Consistency and patience lead to success.
Example: “He wasn’t the fastest runner, but slow and steady wins the race.”
Alternative: Step by step.
Note: Drawn from Aesop’s fables, used in motivational settings.
All in Good Time
Meaning: Everything will happen when the time is right.
Example: “You’ll find love all in good time.”
Alternative: Patience is key.
Note: Encouraging and semi-formal.
Don’t Rush Things
Meaning: Take your time, don’t hurry.
Example: “Don’t rush things; your career will develop naturally.”
Alternative: Take it step by step.
Note: Very common in daily conversations.
Let Nature Take Its Course
Meaning: Allow events to unfold naturally.
Example: “The doctor said the injury would heal if we let nature take its course.”
Alternative: Go with the flow.
Note: Semi-formal, often in health or life advice.
Idioms About Waiting for Something
Bide Your Time
Meaning: Wait calmly for the right moment.
Example: “She’s biding her time before making the big move.”
Alternative: Play the waiting game.
Note: Slightly formal.
Killing Time
Meaning: Passing time while waiting.
Example: “We were killing time at the café before the movie started.”
Alternative: Passing the time.
Note: Informal and casual.
In the Nick of Time
Meaning: At the last possible moment.
Example: “He arrived in the nick of time to catch the train.”
Alternative: Just in time.
Note: Very common in casual speech.
Wait Forever
Meaning: Wait for a very long time.
Example: “I felt like I had to wait forever at the hospital.”
Alternative: An eternity.
Note: Informal exaggeration.
Just Around the Corner
Meaning: Something will happen soon.
Example: “Don’t worry, success is just around the corner.”
Alternative: Coming soon.
Note: Used in motivational and positive contexts.
Don’t Hold Your Breath
Meaning: Don’t expect something soon.
Example: “They promised to fix the road, but don’t hold your breath.”
Alternative: Don’t count on it.
Note: Informal, sometimes sarcastic.
Any Day Now
Meaning: Expected to happen very soon.
Example: “The baby is due any day now.”
Alternative: Soon enough.
Note: Informal, daily use.
It’s Only a Matter of Time
Meaning: Something will definitely happen eventually.
Example: “With her skills, it’s only a matter of time before she’s promoted.”
Alternative: Bound to happen.
Note: Common in both casual and formal settings.
On Hold
Meaning: Paused or waiting for a result.
Example: “The project is on hold until we get approval.”
Alternative: Pending.
Note: Common in professional settings.
Time Will Tell
Meaning: The future will reveal the truth.
Example: “We don’t know if this will work, but time will tell.”
Alternative: Wait and see.
Note: Very common and widely used.
Idioms About Staying Calm and Tolerant
Keep Your Cool
Meaning: Stay calm under stress.
Example: “She managed to keep her cool during the argument.”
Alternative: Stay composed.
Note: Used in both formal and informal speech.
Lose Your Temper
Meaning: Fail to stay patient.
Example: “He lost his temper after waiting for hours.”
Alternative: Blow up.
Note: Informal, often negative.
Bite Your Tongue
Meaning: Stop yourself from speaking out of anger.
Example: “I wanted to argue, but I bit my tongue.”
Alternative: Hold back.
Note: Informal, everyday use.
Grin and Bear It
Meaning: Endure something unpleasant patiently.
Example: “The job is tough, but I’ll just grin and bear it.”
Alternative: Put up with it.
Note: Common in British and American English.
Patience of a Saint
Meaning: Extreme patience.
Example: “Teachers must have the patience of a saint.”
Alternative: Endless patience.
Note: Often used as praise.
Bear With Me
Meaning: Please be patient with me.
Example: “Bear with me while I find the documents.”
Alternative: Hold on a moment.
Note: Polite, semi-formal.
At the End of My Rope
Meaning: Out of patience.
Example: “I’m at the end of my rope with this noise.”
Alternative: Fed up.
Note: Informal.
Lose Patience
Meaning: Stop being tolerant.
Example: “She lost patience with her slow computer.”
Alternative: Run out of patience.
Note: Commonly used in daily life.
Have the Nerve
Meaning: Show courage and patience in handling something.
Example: “He had the nerve to wait through all the challenges.”
Alternative: Boldness.
Note: Semi-formal.
Like Watching Paint Dry
Meaning: Something very slow and boring.
Example: “Waiting in line felt like watching paint dry.”
Alternative: As dull as dishwater.
Note: Informal and humorous.
Idioms About Long-Term Patience and Perseverance
Playing the Waiting Game
Meaning: Choosing to wait rather than act immediately.
Example: “The company is playing the waiting game before investing.”
Alternative: Hold off.
Note: Often used in business and strategy.
Patience is a Virtue
Meaning: Patience is a valuable quality.
Example: “Don’t rush—patience is a virtue.”
Alternative: All in good time.
Note: Widely used proverb.
Keep Someone Waiting
Meaning: Make someone wait.
Example: “I don’t want to keep you waiting.”
Alternative: Delay.
Note: Commonly used in both formal and informal speech.
Worth the Wait
Meaning: Something good after waiting.
Example: “The food was worth the wait.”
Alternative: Payoff.
Note: Daily life usage.
Wait Out
Meaning: Remain patient until a difficult period passes.
Example: “We’ll wait out the storm before leaving.”
Alternative: Sit tight.
Note: Informal, common in tricky situations.
Wait in the Wings
Meaning: Be ready and patient for your chance.
Example: “She’s waiting in the wings for a promotion.”
Alternative: Stand by.
Note: Common in professional or artistic contexts.
Sit Tight
Meaning: Stay patient and not take action.
Example: “The manager asked us to sit tight until the decision.”
Alternative: Hold still.
Note: Informal, casual usage.
A Long Haul
Meaning: Something that takes time and patience.
Example: “Building a business is a long haul.”
Alternative: Marathon.
Note: Professional and casual usage.
Wait for the Dust to Settle
Meaning: Wait until things calm down.
Example: “Let’s wait for the dust to settle before making changes.”
Alternative: Hold back.
Note: Semi-formal.
Cool Your Heels
Meaning: Forced to wait.
Example: “I had to cool my heels at the office for hours.”
Alternative: Keep waiting.
Note: Informal.
How to Use These Idioms in Daily Life
- In Speaking: Use idioms naturally in conversations, especially informal ones. Instead of saying “be calm,” say “keep your cool.”
- In Writing: Idioms enrich creative writing, essays, and blogs. They make text engaging and less repetitive.
- In Professional Settings: Use polite idioms like “bear with me” or “on hold” in emails and meetings. Avoid overly casual idioms in very formal situations.
Common Mistakes Learners Make With Idioms
- Using idioms too literally
❌ “He literally killed time by sleeping.”
✅ “We killed time by playing cards.” - Mixing idioms together
❌ “Rome wasn’t built in a minute.”
✅ “Rome wasn’t built in a day.” - Using inappropriate context
❌ “Please hold your horses” (to your boss in a meeting).
✅ “Please bear with me while I explain.”
FAQs About Idioms for Patience
1. What are idioms for patience?
They are expressions that describe waiting, tolerance, and calmness in creative, non-literal ways.
2. Why should I learn idioms about patience?
They help you sound natural, enrich your vocabulary, and express emotions more clearly.
3. Are these idioms formal or informal?
Some are casual like “chill out”, while others are polite and formal like “bear with me.”
4. Do native speakers really use these idioms?
Yes, many idioms are part of daily conversation, workplace communication, and even professional writing.
5. How can I practice using idioms?
Try including them in roleplays, short stories, or even casual chats with friends.
Conclusion
Patience is more than just waiting—it’s an art, and English idioms bring that art to life with colorful expressions.
From “hold your horses” to “slow and steady wins the race,” these idioms teach us that waiting calmly often leads to better outcomes.
By using them in your daily conversations, writing, or professional communication, you’ll sound more fluent, natural, and engaging. Remember: learning idioms takes time, but as the saying goes, good things come to those who wait.
