Idioms are fun and colorful phrases that make our language more expressive. They don’t always mean exactly what the words say, but they help us communicate feelings and ideas in creative, memorable ways. For anyone learning English—or just trying to sound a little more wise and witty—idioms can add flavor to everyday conversations.
Patience-related idioms are especially helpful because they teach us to slow down, wait calmly, and handle life’s delays without losing our cool. In this blog post, we’ll explore 50 idioms that center around the theme of patience. Each idiom comes with its meaning, an extended example sentence to show how it’s used in real life, and some alternate phrases you can use instead.
By learning and practicing these idioms, you’ll not only build your vocabulary but also develop stronger communication skills that can help in school, friendships, and everyday situations. Let’s take a deep breath and dive into the peaceful world of patience idioms.
Idioms for Patience
1. Bite your tongue
Meaning: To stop yourself from saying something that might upset someone.
In a Sentence: Even though I completely disagreed with what my brother said during dinner, I had to bite my tongue because I didn’t want to ruin the peaceful family evening by starting an argument.
Other Ways to Say: Hold back words, Stay silent
2. Hold your horses
Meaning: Wait and be patient before acting.
In a Sentence: I know you’re super excited to rush into the amusement park and get on the rides, but you really need to hold your horses while we wait for the rest of the group to catch up.
Other Ways to Say: Slow down, Be patient
3. Keep your shirt on
Meaning: Stay calm and be patient in a tense situation.
In a Sentence: When the internet stopped working right in the middle of his online game, my little brother got so mad, but I told him to keep his shirt on because the connection would probably come back in just a few minutes.
Other Ways to Say: Don’t get angry, Stay cool
4. Rome wasn’t built in a day
Meaning: Important things take time to complete.
In a Sentence: When I felt frustrated that I wasn’t learning the guitar as fast as I hoped, my teacher reminded me that Rome wasn’t built in a day and that it’s okay to take time to grow.
Other Ways to Say: Be patient with progress, Take your time
5. Take a deep breath
Meaning: Calm yourself down before reacting.
In a Sentence: When I found out I lost my sketchbook right before art class, I had to take a deep breath and remind myself that panicking wouldn’t help me find it any faster.
Other Ways to Say: Stay calm, Collect yourself
6. Wait it out
Meaning: Stay patient through a difficult or uncomfortable situation.
In a Sentence: The rain started pouring just before the soccer game, so instead of going home, we decided to wait it out under the stadium awning, hoping it would clear up soon.
Other Ways to Say: Be patient, Hang in there
7. Hang tight
Meaning: Stay put and be patient during a delay.
In a Sentence: When the teacher stepped out of the classroom to get more supplies, she told us to hang tight and that she’d be back in just a few minutes with the materials we needed.
Other Ways to Say: Wait patiently, Stay where you are
8. Sit tight
Meaning: Wait patiently without moving or doing anything.
In a Sentence: While my mom went inside the store to grab a few items, she told me to sit tight in the car and keep the doors locked until she came back.
Other Ways to Say: Stay still, Don’t move
9. One step at a time
Meaning: Don’t rush—take things slowly and steadily.
In a Sentence: When I started organizing my messy room, my dad reminded me to go one step at a time instead of trying to clean everything at once and feeling overwhelmed.
Other Ways to Say: Take it slow, Do things gradually
10. All in good time
Meaning: Things will happen when the time is right—just be patient.
In a Sentence: I kept asking my parents when we would go on our vacation, and they just smiled and said, “All in good time,” reminding me to enjoy the wait and not rush the fun.
Other Ways to Say: Be patient, It’ll happen eventually
11. Play the waiting game
Meaning: To wait patiently for something to happen rather than forcing it.
In a Sentence: After applying to several colleges, I had to play the waiting game for weeks before I finally got my first acceptance letter in the mail.
Other Ways to Say: Be patient, Wait it out
12. Just around the corner
Meaning: Something is coming soon, so wait a little longer.
In a Sentence: Even though it felt like winter would never end, my mom reminded me that spring was just around the corner and the flowers would bloom soon.
Other Ways to Say: Coming soon, Nearly here
13. Cool your jets
Meaning: Calm down and be patient.
In a Sentence: When my sister kept rushing me to get ready for the party, I told her to cool her jets because we still had an hour before we needed to leave.
Other Ways to Say: Chill out, Relax a bit
14. Give it time
Meaning: Wait and let things develop naturally.
In a Sentence: I was frustrated that I didn’t make new friends right away at my new school, but my dad reminded me to give it time because friendships don’t happen overnight.
Other Ways to Say: Be patient, Let it happen naturally
15. Patience is a virtue
Meaning: Being able to wait calmly is a valuable and admirable trait.
In a Sentence: Even though I was tempted to interrupt during the presentation, I reminded myself that patience is a virtue and waited until the speaker was finished to ask my question.
Other Ways to Say: Waiting calmly is good, Be graceful while waiting
16. Let nature take its course
Meaning: Allow things to happen in their own time without interference.
In a Sentence: When our dog was recovering from surgery, the vet told us not to worry and to let nature take its course, giving her time to heal on her own.
Other Ways to Say: Don’t rush, Let it happen
17. In due course
Meaning: Something will happen at the appropriate time.
In a Sentence: My teacher said she would announce the winner of the art contest in due course, so we had to wait patiently until the end of the week.
Other Ways to Say: Eventually, When the time is right
18. Take it slow
Meaning: Don’t rush—move forward at a calm pace.
In a Sentence: When learning to drive, my instructor told me to take it slow and not feel pressured to do everything perfectly right away.
Other Ways to Say: Move at your own pace, Go gradually
19. Don’t rush it
Meaning: Avoid hurrying through something that needs time.
In a Sentence: While building my model airplane, my dad reminded me not to rush it or I might mess up and have to start all over again.
Other Ways to Say: Be careful, Take your time
20. Like watching paint dry
Meaning: A situation that feels extremely slow or boring.
In a Sentence: Sitting through that three-hour meeting felt like watching paint dry, but I stayed calm and patient until it was finally over.
Other Ways to Say: Really boring, Extremely slow
21. Wait your turn
Meaning: Don’t try to go ahead of others—be patient and respectful.
In a Sentence: At the ice cream truck, a little kid tried to cut in front of me, but the vendor kindly reminded him to wait his turn like everyone else.
Other Ways to Say: Be polite, Stand in line
22. All in good time
Meaning: Things will happen when they are meant to.
In a Sentence: I really wanted to drive as soon as I turned 16, but my mom said, “All in good time,” and reminded me that getting a license required patience and practice first.
Other Ways to Say: Be patient, It’ll come eventually
23. Take a chill pill
Meaning: Relax and calm down instead of being impatient or upset.
In a Sentence: My friend was panicking about the group project deadline, so I jokingly told her to take a chill pill and that we still had plenty of time to get it done.
Other Ways to Say: Calm down, Don’t stress
24. Not in a hurry
Meaning: Willing to wait and take time without rushing.
In a Sentence: Even though I had a long list of chores to do, I wasn’t in a hurry and decided to take my time and do each one properly.
Other Ways to Say: No rush, Taking it easy
25. Wait for the dust to settle
Meaning: Be patient until things become clearer or calmer.
In a Sentence: After the big argument between my classmates, our teacher advised us to wait for the dust to settle before trying to resolve the issue.
Other Ways to Say: Wait until things calm down, Let emotions cool
26. Take forever
Meaning: Something that seems to take a very long time.
In a Sentence: It felt like the movie was going to take forever to start because the previews just kept playing and playing without end.
Other Ways to Say: Take a long time, Feel endless
27. In the fullness of time
Meaning: Eventually, after everything has happened as it should.
In a Sentence: My coach said that in the fullness of time, I would become a strong leader on the team if I kept practicing and learning from my mistakes.
Other Ways to Say: With time, Eventually
28. Let it simmer
Meaning: Give something time to develop or calm down.
In a Sentence: After we had a disagreement, I decided to let it simmer before talking to my friend again so we both had time to cool off.
Other Ways to Say: Let it settle, Wait a bit
29. Take things in stride
Meaning: Handle delays or difficulties calmly and without complaint.
In a Sentence: Even when our field trip got postponed due to weather, our class took things in stride and planned a fun indoor activity instead.
Other Ways to Say: Stay calm, Handle it well
30. Time heals all wounds
Meaning: Emotional pain or conflict becomes easier with time.
In a Sentence: After my best friend and I had a falling out, my mom reminded me that time heals all wounds and encouraged me to be patient as we worked things out.
Other Ways to Say: It gets better, Give it time
31. Don’t jump the gun
Meaning: Don’t act too soon or before you’re supposed to.
In a Sentence: I wanted to announce the good news about my scholarship, but my teacher told me not to jump the gun because the official results hadn’t been posted yet.
Other Ways to Say: Wait your turn, Don’t rush
32. Sit on it
Meaning: Wait and think before making a decision.
In a Sentence: When I got an offer for a summer job, my dad advised me to sit on it for a day or two before saying yes so I could think it through.
Other Ways to Say: Think before acting, Delay decision
33. Take your sweet time
Meaning: Move slowly or at a relaxed pace.
In a Sentence: My little brother took his sweet time getting ready for school, even though we were all already waiting in the car.
Other Ways to Say: Move slowly, No rush
34. Let things unfold
Meaning: Allow events to happen naturally without interfering.
In a Sentence: I was curious how the story would end, but I had to let things unfold as the book built toward its final chapter.
Other Ways to Say: Let it happen, Don’t interfere
35. Don’t be hasty
Meaning: Avoid making quick or impulsive decisions.
In a Sentence: When I was about to quit the club after one bad meeting, my friend reminded me not to be hasty and to give it another shot.
Other Ways to Say: Think it through, Be careful
36. Wait for the right moment
Meaning: Be patient and act when the timing is best.
In a Sentence: I didn’t blurt out my idea during the loud debate; I waited for the right moment to speak when everyone was ready to listen.
Other Ways to Say: Pick your time, Be strategic
37. Take a step back
Meaning: Pause and reflect before acting or reacting.
In a Sentence: When I got too overwhelmed with my school project, I decided to take a step back and organize my thoughts before moving forward again.
Other Ways to Say: Pause, Reflect
38. Let it go
Meaning: Stop worrying about something that already happened.
In a Sentence: I kept thinking about the embarrassing thing I said last week, but my sister told me to let it go and focus on the present.
Other Ways to Say: Move on, Forget about it
39. Hold off
Meaning: Delay doing something for a while.
In a Sentence: I wanted to buy the new video game, but I decided to hold off until I finished my school project.
Other Ways to Say: Postpone, Wait
40. Take a breather
Meaning: Pause for a short rest, especially when feeling overwhelmed.
In a Sentence: After writing five pages of my essay, I needed to take a breather and clear my head before continuing.
Other Ways to Say: Rest, Pause briefly
41. Keep it together
Meaning: Stay calm and composed under stress.
In a Sentence: Even though I was really nervous before my performance, I took a deep breath and tried to keep it together in front of the crowd.
Other Ways to Say: Stay calm, Don’t lose control
42. Be still my heart
Meaning: Used to calm yourself when something excites or shocks you.
In a Sentence: When my crush walked into the room and sat next to me, I had to whisper “Be still my heart” so I wouldn’t freak out.
Other Ways to Say: Calm down, Stay cool
43. All in its own time
Meaning: Things will happen when they’re supposed to.
In a Sentence: I felt anxious about not achieving my goals yet, but my mentor reminded me that everything happens all in its own time, and I didn’t need to rush.
Other Ways to Say: Trust the process, Don’t force it
44. Don’t force it
Meaning: Let things happen naturally instead of trying too hard.
In a Sentence: I was trying so hard to make new friends right away, but my counselor said not to force it and just be myself.
Other Ways to Say: Let it happen, Stay natural
45. Let time do its work
Meaning: Allow time to bring healing or change.
In a Sentence: After my team lost the championship game, our coach said we’d feel better if we just let time do its work and kept focusing on the future.
Other Ways to Say: Time will help, Be patient
46. Let the moment pass
Meaning: Don’t act or speak immediately—wait for the right time.
In a Sentence: When I felt tempted to argue with my classmate, I chose to let the moment pass and talk later when we both felt calmer.
Other Ways to Say: Wait, Hold off
47. Don’t rush the process
Meaning: Respect the time it takes to complete something properly.
In a Sentence: While baking cookies, my mom told me not to rush the process or I’d end up with doughy centers and burnt edges.
Other Ways to Say: Follow the steps, Be patient
48. Trust the timing
Meaning: Believe that things will happen when they’re meant to.
In a Sentence: I was discouraged about not landing the internship, but my dad encouraged me to trust the timing and keep applying.
Other Ways to Say: Believe in the process, Stay hopeful
49. Time will tell
Meaning: The results will be clear after some time.
In a Sentence: After submitting my short story to the contest, I reminded myself that time will tell whether or not it gets published.
Other Ways to Say: We’ll see, Be patient
50. Take the long view
Meaning: Focus on the future instead of immediate results.
In a Sentence: When I was upset about a small setback in my science project, my teacher told me to take the long view and remember how far I’d already come.
Other Ways to Say: Think big picture, Look ahead
Practical Exercise
Fill in the blanks:
- My teacher told me to _________ before responding to the tough question in class.
- Even though I wanted to interrupt, I had to _________ and wait until the conversation was over.
- My friend reminded me not to _________ the process of healing after a breakup.
- After finishing my test early, I had to _________ while others finished.
- The rain ruined our picnic plans, but my mom said to _________ and not let it ruin our day.
- I didn’t say anything mean back because I chose to _________ and avoid drama.
- I was really excited to speak, but I decided to _________ and wait until the right time.
- When I failed my first driving test, my dad told me to _________ and try again later.
- She told me that _________, everything would make sense.
- Instead of rushing to buy the phone, I decided to _________ until the next sale.
Answers:
take a deep breath, bite my tongue, rush, sit tight, let it go, hold my tongue, let the moment pass, wait it out, in the fullness of time, hold off
Conclusion
Patience isn’t just about waiting—it’s about how you act while you’re waiting. These idioms give you fun and meaningful ways to talk about staying calm, handling delays, and trusting the process. Whether you’re dealing with school stress, friendships, or just life moving slower than you’d like, these phrases can help you stay grounded.
Keep practicing these idioms in your everyday conversations. Write them down, use them with friends, or spot them in books and movies. The more you use them, the more natural they’ll feel. And remember—patience is a superpower, and idioms are your tools to master it.