bide your time

USAGE SUMMARY

'bide your time' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to something that is worth waiting for or when you want to advise someone not to rush into something and instead wait until the right time. Example Sentence: "Things will turn around eventually, so just bide your time and stay patient."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sport

Books

Food

Science

Opinion

Lifestyle

Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

You should bide your time until January and a new tax year to invest in these funds.

Forbes

You never know when the targets will change depending on the whim of political leaders, and you bide your time and wait for the aim of the gun to hopefully bypass you.

The Guardian - Books

You have to bide your time, strike when the moment comes and then bide your time again and stay calm".

The Guardian - Sport

If the book just isn't ready yet, bide your time and do further revisions.

The Guardian - Books

When the crabs scuttle offstage between seasons, you could bide your time with clams in "hot spicy XO sauce".

The New York Times - Food

If a culture has to be grown, then you have to bide your time while cell division takes its course.

The New York Times - Magazine

You have to be wary of the players you're up against, bide your time and attack only at certain moments.

The Guardian - Sport

Therefore, you need the full backing and understanding of your home office so you can bide your time.

Harvard Business Review

Deng Xiaoping famously urged his countrymen to "hide your brightness, bide your time," but that's probably only part of the story here.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

Alternating between an aggressive and submissive attitude is confusing and allows you to bide your time...

HuffPost

Top tip Knowing too many people is far more problematic than too few, so bide your time.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "bide your time" when you want to advise someone to be patient and wait for a more favorable opportunity rather than rushing into action.

Common error

Avoid using "bide your time" when immediate action is required. This phrase is suitable only when waiting offers a strategic advantage or avoids potential risks.

Linguistic Context

The idiomatic expression "bide your time" functions as an advisory phrase, urging the listener or reader to delay action and exercise patience. This use is consistent throughout the Ludwig examples, where it's used to suggest waiting for a better opportunity.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Sport

10%

Books

10%

Less common in

Food

2%

Science

2%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "bide your time" is a common and grammatically sound idiomatic expression used to advise strategic patience. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and offers numerous examples across diverse contexts, ranging from news and media to sports and literature. When using this phrase, remember that it implies more than just waiting; it suggests waiting with purpose and anticipation for a more opportune moment. While versatile, it's essential to ensure the context aligns with the need for strategic delay.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

wait for the opportune moment

Focuses on actively seeking and waiting for the best time to act.

wait it out

Focuses on enduring a period until a desired outcome occurs, slightly less proactive.

play a waiting game

Suggests a strategic approach to a situation where waiting is a key tactic.

hold off

Emphasizes delaying action, often to gain an advantage or avoid a negative consequence.

sit tight

Implies waiting patiently and remaining in a current position or situation.

remain patient

Highlights the importance of maintaining patience during a waiting period.

exercise patience

Similar to 'remain patient', but emphasizes the active application of patience.

keep your powder dry

An idiom meaning to be prepared and ready for action when the time is right.

hold your horses

An idiom meaning to slow down and wait before taking action.

wait and see

Implies a passive approach, observing and waiting for developments before acting.

FAQs

How can I use "bide your time" in a sentence?

You can use "bide your time" to suggest waiting patiently for a better opportunity. For example, "Instead of investing now, "bide your time" until the market stabilizes."

What does "bide your time" mean?

"Bide your time" means to wait patiently for a favorable opportunity or a suitable moment to take action. It implies a strategic delay rather than inaction.

Which is more appropriate: "bide your time" or "wait"?

"Bide your time" is more specific, suggesting a strategic reason for waiting, whereas "wait" is a general term. Use ""bide your time"" when the waiting is intentional and purposeful.

What are some situations where it's good to "bide your time"?

It's often wise to ""bide your time"" in negotiations, investment decisions, or when seeking a promotion. Waiting allows you to gather more information and act when the circumstances are most advantageous.