bide

To delay some action until an ideal moment or situation reveals itself. I'm just biding my time in an office job until a tenure-track position opens up at one of the local colleges. I never forgot the way he bullied and humiliated me in high school, but I chose to bide my time. Ten years later, my global corporation bought his family's puny company and exploited it for everything it was worth, leaving him penniless. Just bide your time as an intern and make a good impression at the company. That way, they'll keep you in mind for future jobs.

To stay for a short period of time. Primarily heard in Scotland. You can't leave already—I haven't seen you in so long! At least bide a wee. I'm sorry, but I have to catch the 5:00 train, so I can't bide a wee today. She didn't bide a wee, so I wasn't able to get an update on all the drama at her job.

To obey something, usually an established rule. A variant of "abide by." Primarily heard in Scotland. Because Donna refuses to bide by her parents' rules, I worry that she'll be told to move out of their house. If you don't bide by the guidelines set by the review board, you might find yourself disqualified. The school threatens to expel any student who cannot bide by their rules and regulations.

to wait patiently. I've been biding my time for years, just waiting for a chance like this. He's not the type just to sit there and bide his time. He wants some action now.

Wait for the opportune moment, as in The cat sat in front of the mousehole, biding its time. This phrase employs the verb to bide in the sense of "to wait for," a usage dating from about a.d. 950 and surviving mainly in this locution.

To wait for further developments.

To wait for the right moment to speak or take action. The verb to bide, meaning “to wait for” since about the year 950, survives today only in this cliché. Frederick W. Robertson used the expression in a sermon (1853): “They bide their time and suddenly represent themselves.”