English Idioms of Patience - PurlandTraining.com

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Learn 12 English Idioms of Patience

How patient are you? Do you believe that patience is a virtue (it is good to be patient) or do you regularly run out of patience (stop being patient and take often ill-advised action)? Whatever your answer, try to remember that Rome wasn’t built in a day (good work takes time to complete), and all things come to those who wait (it will happen eventually, so until then be patient). In any case, you don’t have to wait to discover our 12 English idioms of patience, because they are right here!

[Click here to learn more about how to use idioms in teaching English.]

1. idiom: Patience is a virtue.

literal meaning: It is good to be patient.

example: ‘It’s taking ages to print these papers. It’ll be another half hour – at least.’ ‘Chill out, Brian. Patience is a virtue.’

2. idiom: Hang (on) in there.

literal meaning: Don’t give up.

example: ‘I can’t wait to finish my dissertation. It’s taking up all my free time.’ ‘Hang on in there. It’ll be worth it in the end.’

3. idiom: Rome wasn’t built in a day.

literal meaning: Good work takes time to complete.

example: ‘When I finish painting this room, I’ve got to do the bathroom, bedroom, and the front room. I won’t finish it today.’ ‘Don’t worry, Alex. Take your time. Rome wasn’t built in a day.’

4. idiom: To try [somebody’s] patience.

literal meaning: To annoy somebody.

example: ‘What’s the matter, Sandra?’ ‘It’s our Jeffrey. He spends all day in his room playing the drums. What an awful racket!. He’s really trying my patience.’

5. idiom: To lose one’s / run out of patience.

literal meaning: To stop being patient and take action.

example: ‘What’s happened now, Sandra?’ ‘Well, I ran out of patience and hid Jeffrey’s drum sticks. Now he’s sulking.’

6. idiom: Hold your horses!

literal meaning: Stop! Don’t rush things.

example: ‘Right – once we’ve put our house on the market, I’m moving to Canada, finding a new bloke, and setting up a kebab shop!’ ‘Woah! Hold your horses! I haven’t even agreed to a trial separation yet!’

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7. idiom: To play the long game.

literal meaning: To take a long-term approach to something.

example: ‘Should we fire Carrie and Dan now?’ ‘No, no. I’d prefer to play the long game. Let’s give both of them a project and reassess their work after six months.’

8. idiom: To take [something] one step at a time.

literal meaning: To do something slowly and methodically.

example: ‘I don’t think I’ll ever learn Spanish.’ ‘Just take it slowly – one step at a time. You’ll get there – one lesson at a time.’

9. idiom: No hurry.

literal meaning: You do not need to do something quickly.

example: ‘I’ll get this report back to you by four o’clock. Or do you need it sooner?’ ‘No hurry. Four will be fine. Or tomorrow morning.’

10. idiom: A watched pot never boils.

literal meaning: If you are impatient for a result, time seems to move more slowly.

example: ‘I’m waiting for this game to download, but it’s a big download.’ ‘Go and do something else and then it’ll be ready. A watched pot never boils.’

11. idiom: Wait and see.

literal meaning: The answer will become clear soon.

example: ‘I wonder what mum’s cooking for lunch tomorrow.’ ‘You’ll have to wait and see.’’

12. idiom: All things come to those who wait.

literal meaning: It will happen eventually, so until then be patient.

example: ‘I can’t wait for my birthday! It’s not fair that I’ve got to wait eleven and a half months!’ ‘Don’t worry, John. All things come to those who wait.’