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bide one's time

 - 2 dictionary results

bide

  [bahyd] verb, bid⋅ed or bode; bid⋅ed or (Archaic) bid; bid⋅ing.
Use bide one's time in a Sentence
–verb (used with object)
1. Archaic. to endure; bear.
2. Obsolete. to encounter.
–verb (used without object)
3. to dwell; abide; wait; remain.
—Idiom
4. bide one's time, to wait for a favorable opportunity: He wanted to ask for a raise, but bided his time.
Origin:
bef. 900; ME biden, OE bīdan; c. OFris bīdia, OS bīdan, OHG bītan, ON bītha, Goth beidan, L fīdere, Gk peíthesthai to trust, rely < IE *bheidh-; the meaning appar. developed: have trust > endure > wait > abide > remain

Related forms:
bider, noun

Synonyms:
3. stay, linger, tarry.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Idioms & Phrases

bide one's time

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.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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