Phrase guide

bide one's time

verb · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

verb

Meaning 1

To wait, especially for a suitable opportunity.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic, intransitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

21 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 等待時機 /等待时机 (děngdài shíjī) — to wait, especially for a suitable opportunity
  • Chinese Mandarin: 等機會 /等机会 (děng jīhuì) — to wait, especially for a suitable opportunity
  • Dutch: de kans afwachten — to wait, especially for a suitable opportunity
  • Finnish: odottaa tilaisuuttaan — to wait, especially for a suitable opportunity
  • Finnish: odottaa sopivaa hetkeä — to wait, especially for a suitable opportunity
  • French: attendre son heure — to wait, especially for a suitable opportunity
  • German: den rechten Augenblick abwarten — to wait, especially for a suitable opportunity
  • Hungarian: kivárja az idejét — to wait, especially for a suitable opportunity
  • Hungarian: kivárja a megfelelő időt/pillanatot/alkalmat — to wait, especially for a suitable opportunity
  • Hungarian: kivárja az alkalmas pillanatot — to wait, especially for a suitable opportunity
  • Japanese: 満を持す (man o jisu) — to wait, especially for a suitable opportunity
  • Korean: 기회를 노리다 (gihoe-reul norida) — to wait, especially for a suitable opportunity
  • Korean: 벼르다 (byeoreuda) — to wait, especially for a suitable opportunity
  • Polish: czekać na właściwą chwilę — to wait, especially for a suitable opportunity
  • Polish: poczekać na właściwą chwilę — to wait, especially for a suitable opportunity
  • Russian: ждать своего́ ча́са (ždatʹ svojevó čása) — to wait, especially for a suitable opportunity
  • Russian: выжида́ть своё вре́мя (vyžidátʹ svojó vrémja) — to wait, especially for a suitable opportunity
  • Spanish: esperar a su momento — to wait, especially for a suitable opportunity
  • Spanish: esperar a su hora — to wait, especially for a suitable opportunity
  • Swedish: bida sin tid — to wait, especially for a suitable opportunity
  • Turkish: fırsat kollamak — to wait, especially for a suitable opportunity