bide your time
Meaning
To wait patiently for the right moment to act or take advantage of an opportunity.
Origin
From older English “bide” meaning “to remain, stay, or wait” (common in Middle English). The phrase came to mean waiting calmly until circumstances are favorable.
Notes
Often implies strategic patience—waiting for conditions to improve before acting. Slightly formal/old-fashioned compared with “wait it out.”
Examples
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He decided to bide his time at his current job until the right position opened up.
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If you bide your time, you’ll have a better chance to negotiate from a position of strength.
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The team bided their time in the first half, then attacked aggressively after the break.
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She’s biding her time, gathering evidence before confronting her manager.
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Investors who can bide their time often benefit when the market rebounds.
Grammar & Usage Notes
Fixed pattern: “bide your time” (rarely “bide one’s time”). Verb can inflect: “bided his time,” “is biding her time.” Usually used without an object clause (not *bide your time to do X*).
Synonyms
- wait for the right moment
- lie in wait
- wait it out
- hold off
Antonyms
- rush in
- act hastily
- jump the gun