ait Idiom

in bad faith

in dire straits

in good faith

keep the faith

lie in wait

on faith

wait a minute

wait a sec

wait around

wait for the other shoe to drop

wait on customers

wait on hand and foot

wait on tables

wait on you hand and foot

wait up

wait up for

wait with bated breath

jailbait

wait about

wait about/around

wait at/on table

wait at table

wait on

wait on table

wait on/upon

wait out

wait upon

waiting in the wings

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.

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wait-and-see attitude

Idiom(s): wait-and-see attitude

Theme: INDECISION

a skeptical attitude; an uncertain attitude where someone will just wait and see what happens. (Fixed order.)
• John thought that Mary couldn't do it, but he took a wait-and-see attitude.
• His wait-and-see attitude didn't influence me at all.

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wait on sb hand and foot

Idiom(s): wait on sb hand and foot

Theme: ASSISTANCE

to serve someone very well, attending to all personal needs.
• I don't mind bringing you your coffee, but I don't intend to wait on you hand and foot.
• I don't want anyone to wait on me hand and foot. I can take care of myself.

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take sth on faith

Idiom(s): take sth on faith

Theme: BELIEF

to accept or believe something on the basis of little or no evidence.
• Please try to believe what I'm telling you. Just take it on faith.
• Surely you can't expect me to take a story like that on faith.

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rise to the bait

Idiom(s): rise to the bait

Theme: RESPONSE

to be lured by some kind of bait.
• I threatened to take another job elsewhere, but the boss did not rise to the bait.
• When I said I was leaving, Ted rose to the bait and asked why.

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pin one's faith on

Idiom(s): pin one's faith on sb or sth

Theme: TRUST

to put one's hope, trust, or faith in someone or something.
• I’m pinning my faith on your efforts.
• Don’t pin your faith on Tom. He's not dependable.

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not able to wait

Idiom(s): not able to wait

Theme: URGENCY

to have to go to the bathroom urgently. (Informal.)
• Mom, I can't wait.
• Driver, stop the bus! My little boy cant wait.

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lie in wait for

Idiom(s): lie in wait for sb or sth

Theme: ENTRAPMENT

to wait quietly in ambush for someone or something.
• The lion lay in wait for the zebra.
• The robber was lying in wait for a victim.

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fish or cut bait

Idiom(s): fish or cut bait

Theme: BUSY

either do the job you are supposed to be doing or quit and let someone else do it. (Fixed order.)
• Mary is doing much better on the job since her manager told her to fish or cut bait.
• The boss told Tom, "Quit wasting time! Fish or cut bait!"

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bait and switch

Idiom(s): bait and switch

Theme: DECEPTION

a deceptive merchandising practice where one product is advertised to get people's attention [the bait], but pressure is applied to get the customer to purchase a more expensive item. (Fixed order.)
• Walter described the appliance store as bait and switch, since they never seemed to have in stock the bargains that they advertised.
• Max accused the merchant of bait and switch and stalked out of the store.

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act of faith

Idiom(s): act of faith

Theme: DEED

an act or deed demonstrating religious faith; an act or deed showing trust in someone or something.
• He lit candles in church as an act of faith.
• For him to trust you with his safety was a real act of faith.

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Time and tide wait for no man.

Delaying a decision will not prevent events from taking place.

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Accident waiting to happen

If something is an accident waiting to happen, there's definitely going to be an accident or it's bound to go wrong. ('Disaster waiting to happen' is also used.)

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Time and tide wait for no man

This is used as a way of suggestion that people should act without delay.

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Wait for a raindrop in the drought

When someone is waiting for a raindrop in the drought, they are waiting or hoping for something that is extremely unlikely to happen.

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act of faith|act|faith

n. phr. An act or a deed that shows unquestioning belief in someone or something. It was a real act of faith on Mary's part to entrust her jewelry to her younger sister's care.

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dumbwaiter

n. A small elevator for carrying food, dishes, etc., from one floor to another in hotels, restaurants, or large homes. The banquet was delayed because the dumbwaiter broke down and the food had to be carried upstairs by hand.

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fish or cut bait|bait|cut|fish|fish or cut

v. phr., informal 1. Decide what you want to do and stop wasting time; either act now or give someone else a chance or turn. Jack couldn't decide whether to go to college or get a job, so his father told him to fish or cut bait. "Buy the kind of ice cream you want or give someone else in line a chance. Fish or cut bait!"
Compare: MAKE UP ONE'S MIND. 2. Either try hard and do your best, or quit. Frank missed football practice so often that the coach told him to fish or cut bait.

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good faith|faith|good

n. 1. Belief in another person's honesty; trust. Uncle Dick let me have the keys to his candy store to show his good faith. Often used in the phrase "in good faith". The teacher accepted Bob's excuse for being late in good faith. 2. Honesty of purpose; trustworthiness. John agreed to buy Ted's bicycle for $20, and he paid him $5 right away to show his good faith.

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keep the faith|faith|keep

v. phr. To not abandon hope; stay committed to the cause of democracy and racial equality. "Keep the faith, Baby," my neighbor said as he raised his fingers to show the "V" for victory sign.

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lie in wait|lie|wait

v. phr. To watch from hiding in order to attack or surprise someone; to ambush. The driver of the stage-coach knew that the thieves were lying in wait somewhere along the road.

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on faith|faith|on

adv. phr. Without question or proof. He said he was twenty-one years old and the employment agency took him on faith. He looked so honest that we accepted his story on faith.

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pin one's faith on|faith|pin

v. phr. To depend upon; trust. We pinned our faith on our home basketball team to win the state finals, and they did!