Patience is a very important quality, and there are special sayings called idioms that help us understand it better. These idioms for patience use interesting and imaginative words to talk about waiting calmly and not getting upset. They are like little word games. For example, ‘hold your horses’ doesn’t mean to hold horses, but to wait and be patient. These idioms add spice to our language, making it more fun and expressive. They’re like colorful threads in a tapestry, each one weaving a different story about being patient. Learning these idioms is like discovering new ways to appreciate the value of waiting and calmness.
Idioms about Patience
Here are some common idioms related to patience, along with their meanings and examples:
Steady on
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- Meaning: Be patient or careful
- Example: “Steady on, don’t make any rash decisions.”
Put your eggs in one basket
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- Meaning: Risk everything
- Example: “It’s not wise to put all your eggs in one basket.”
Watch the pot never boils
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- Meaning: Waiting seems longer
- Example: “A watched pot never boils, so just be patient.”
Cool your jets
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- Meaning: Relax, calm down
- Example: “You need to cool your jets and think this through.”
Play the long game
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- Meaning: Think long-term
- Example: “In business, it’s often wise to play the long game.”
Still waters run deep
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- Meaning: Quiet but profound
- Example: “She’s quiet but remember, still waters run deep.”
Everything comes to him who waits
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- Meaning: Patience brings success
- Example: “Remember, everything comes to him who waits.”
Bide your time
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- Meaning: Wait for a good moment
- Example: “Bide your time, and the perfect opportunity will come.”
Hang in there
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- Meaning: Persist, endure
- Example: “Hang in there, things will get better.”
Wait on hand and foot
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- Meaning: Serve diligently
- Example: “He waited on her hand and foot throughout her illness.”
Cut your coat according to your cloth
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- Meaning: Live within means
- Example: “You must learn to cut your coat according to your cloth.”
Slow and steady
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- Meaning: Patient and consistent
- Example: “Slow and steady wins the race.”
A watched phone never rings
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- Meaning: Waiting feels longer
- Example: “Remember, a watched phone never rings, so be patient.”
Don’t count your chickens
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- Meaning: Don’t be prematurely optimistic
- Example: “Don’t count your chickens before they hatch.”
Time heals all wounds
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- Meaning: Recovery takes time
- Example: “Time heals all wounds, so be patient with your heartache.”
All in good time
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- Meaning: Eventually
- Example: “You’ll get promoted all in good time.”
Keep your powder dry
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- Meaning: Stay ready and patient
- Example: “Keep your powder dry until the right moment to act.”
Take a deep breath
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- Meaning: Calm oneself
- Example: “Just take a deep breath before you respond.”
In due course
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- Meaning: Eventually, in time
- Example: “In due course, you’ll understand why this is important.”
Good things come to those who wait
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- Meaning: Patience brings rewards
- Example: “Good things come to those who wait, so be patient for the promotion.”
Wait for the dust to settle
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- Meaning: Allow things to calm down
- Example: “We’ll make a decision once we wait for the dust to settle.”
Keep the faith
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- Meaning: Remain confident
- Example: “Keep the faith, your efforts will pay off.”
Keep your shirt on
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- Meaning: Stay calm
- Example: “Keep your shirt on, the results will be out soon.”
At a snail’s pace
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- Meaning: Very slowly
- Example: “The project is moving at a snail’s pace.”
Hold your horses
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- Meaning: Wait, slow down
- Example: “Hold your horses, we’re not ready to start yet.”
An ounce of patience is worth a pound of brains
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- Meaning: Patience over impulsiveness
- Example: “An ounce of patience is worth a pound of brains in this business.”
Rome wasn’t built in a day
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- Meaning: Things take time
- Example: “Remember, Rome wasn’t built in a day.”
Hold the fort
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- Meaning: Keep things under control
- Example: “Can you hold the fort while I step out?”
Let the dust settle
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- Meaning: Wait for clarity
- Example: “Let’s let the dust settle before making a decision.”
Patience is a virtue
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- Meaning: Patience is valuable
- Example: “Remember, patience is a virtue when dealing with young children.”
These idioms highlight the value of patience in various situations, suggesting that good things often come to those who are willing to wait calmly and persistently.
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