in the wings

1. 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

The simulation of human handicraft — of stagehands and horn players hiding in the wings — is unnerving.

From Los Angeles Times

It’s very difficult to believe the Sinaloa cartel, the New Jalisco Generation cartel or any other criminal group would give all of this up, particularly when competitors are waiting in the wings to increase their own market share.

From Los Angeles Times

In the wings for after Labor Day: what’s new in music, books, dance, theater and museums.

From Los Angeles Times

Freeland will be waiting in the wings just in case.

From Los Angeles Times

Then she turned her head stage-left toward a sound engineer in the wings: “Who’s talking in the mic? I can hear a mic.”

From Los Angeles Times