in the wings

Idioms  

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]

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

in the wings

Cutting loose McDaniel would be expensive, too, and there’s no clear successor waiting in the wings.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 5, 2026

He also expressed worries that a possible AI credit event is waiting in the wings to hit stocks.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 24, 2026

The likes of Sam Cook and Brydon Carse wait in the wings to step in or provide different skills if necessary, meaning England have a large squad of pacemen to choose from.

From BBC ● Aug. 22, 2026

She plowed through Oprah’s recommendations as she split-stretched in the wings of the theater.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 5, 2026

I’m off in the wings, dressed in black, trying to disappear.

From "Shine!" by J.J. and Chris Grabenstein

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