be waiting in the wings Idiom, Proverb

with wings

to take out, to take with you, to go """Can I take your order?"" ""I'll have a Big Mac, a large fries and a Coke - with wings."""

waiting in the wings

Idiom(s): waiting in the wings

Theme: PREPARATION - READY

ready or prepared to do something, especially to take over someone else's job or position. (From waiting at the side of the stage to go on.)
• Mr. Smith retires as manager next year, and Mr. Jones is just waiting in the wings.
• Jane was waiting in the wings, hoping that a member of the hockey team would drop out and she would get a place on the team.

try one's wings

Idiom(s): try (out) one's wings

Theme: TRYING

to try to do something one has recently become qualified to do. (Like a young bird uses its wings to try to fly.)
• John just got his driver's license and wants to borrow the car to try out his wings.
• I learned to skin-dive, and I want to go to the seaside to try my wings.
• She was eager to try out her wings.

take sb under one's wings

Idiom(s): take sb under one's wing(s)

Theme: MANAGE

to take over and care for a person.
• John wasn't doing well in geometry until the teacher took him under her wing.
• I took the new workers under my wings, and they learned the job in no time.

clip one's wings

Idiom(s): clip one's wings

Theme: CONTROL

to restrain someone; to reduce or put an end to a teenager's privileges. (Informal.)
• You had better learn to get home on time, or I will clip your wings.
• My mother clipped my wings. I can't go out tonight.

Time has wings.

Time goes by quickly.

Swings and roundabouts

If something's swings and roundabouts, it has about as many disadvantages as it has advantages.

clip one's wings|clip|wing|wings

v. phr. To limit or hold you back, bring you under control; prevent your success. When the new president tried to become dictator, the generals soon clipped his wings. Jim was spending too much time on dates when he needed to study so his father stopped his allowance; that clipped his wings.

sprout wings|sprout|wings

v. phr. 1. To enter the stage after a period of development when wings appear (said of larvae that turn into butterflies). The dragonflies suddenly sprouted wings and are flying all about in the park. 2. To become good and virtuous (as if airborne). Joe has helped many colleagues in need; he seems to have sprouted wings.

try one's wings|try|wing|wings

v. phr. To try out a recently acquired ability. Marjorie just had her twelfth French lesson and wants to try her wings by speaking with our visitors from Paris.

be cat-and-mouse in the wings

To be accessible and accessible to advice or alter someone. Actors commonly delay in the wings of the amphitheater afore dispatch on stage. My abettor is cat-and-mouse in the wings to booty my job already I retire. We'll be cat-and-mouse in the wings, so aloof arresting us if you charge annihilation during your speech.Learn more: waiting, wing

be cat-and-mouse in the wings

COMMON If addition is cat-and-mouse in the wings, they are cat-and-mouse for an befalling to booty action, abnormally to booty over addition person's job. The aftermost time Joe Clark stepped down as leader, Brian Mulroney was cat-and-mouse in the wings. He was one of a cardinal of young, advancing American players who were cat-and-mouse in the wings for the abutting Major Championship. Compare with in the wings. Note: In a theatre, the wings are the hidden areas to the larboard and appropriate of a stage, area the actors delay afore activity on to the stage. Learn more: waiting, wing

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More Idioms/Phrases

trip up|trip triple threat|threat|triple tripped out|tripped trot out|trot trump card|card|trump trump up|trump try on|try try one's hand|hand|try try one's wings|try|wing|wings try out|try tryout tuck in|tuck tug-of-war|tug|war tune in|tune tune out|tune tune up|tune tune-up|tune be up to (one's) (old) tricks be up to (one's) chin in (something) be up to (one's) ears in (something) be up to (one's) eyeballs in (something) be up to (one's) eyes in (something) be up to (one's) neck in (something) be up to (one's) old tricks be up to (something) be up to ninety be up to par be up to somebody be up to the mark be up to your ears in something be up to your eyes/eyeballs in something be up to your neck in something be up to your tricks be up to/above par be up with the chickens be up with the crows be up with the lark(s) be up your street be up/rise with the lark be upon be upon (someone or something) be waiting for the other shoe to drop be waiting in the wings be walking a tightrope be walking on air be walking on eggshells be wasting (one's) breath be wasting your breath be water off a duck's back be water under the bridge be way off beam be welcome to (something) be well aware of (something) be well aware of something be well away be well in be well in (with) be well off be well off for (something) be well off for something be well out of (something) be well out of something be well placed be well rid of be well rid of (someone or something) be well turned out be well up on something be well versed in (something)