IN THE WINGS

Following on from “winging it,” another idiom with theatrical origins is “in the wings,” which describes someone or something ready to do something or be used at an appropriate time. Again, “wings” refers to those at the sides of a theatre stage.

 Examples of use:

 “More than 70 years after his family opened the harbour-side business, the fishmonger is moving out with Scrabster’s JPL Shellfish waiting in the wings.”

 “Scotland’s biggest single art event will see 200 artists complete more than 500 tattoos with organisers saying the event has grown so much that they have 300 artists waiting in the wings eager to join proceedings.”

 “Felix Auger-Aliassime is waiting in the wings, standing in the concrete tunnel that leads out to the Indian Wells arena.”


 Photo credit: Alan Cleaver