in the wings

Idioms

Also, waiting in the wings. Nearby in the background, available on short notice. For example, Some police were in the wings in case of trouble at the rally, or There are at least a dozen young managers waiting in the wings for Harold to retire. This expression alludes to the theater, where a player waits in the wings or backstage area, unseen by the audience, for his or her turn to come on stage. [Second half of 1800s]

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Waiting in the wings was an exiled Shia Muslim cleric who had opposed the Shah’s American-backed rule, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.

From The Wall Street Journal

There is no credible alternative government in exile waiting in the wings.

From BBC

No clear opposition leader is waiting in the wings, though the former Shah’s son in exile has followers inside the country.

From The Wall Street Journal

The momentum created an opening for dozens of smaller, mainly private-equity backed software firms that had been waiting in the wings.

From The Wall Street Journal

The Chinese skier celebrated like her medal was confirmed at that point, despite plenty of skiers waiting in the wings to nudge her off the podium.

From BBC

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023