| idiom. |
to defer action or decision until another matter is finished or resolved (wiktionary.org); to await a seemingly inevitable event, especially one that is not desirable (Etymology: A common experience of tenement living in apartment-style housing in New York City and other large cities during the manufacturing boom of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Apartments were built with very similar designs, with the bedrooms located directly above and underneath one another. Thus, it was normal to hear a neighbor removing their shoes in the apartment above. As one shoe made a sound hitting the floor, the expectation for the other shoe to make a similar disturbance was created.: After the tournament, Player admitted that all through the final round he had been nervously waiting for more trouble. "It was like waiting for the other shoe to drop."
 wiktionary.org); to be prepared for the next in a series of events (When you see things going wrong and expect the other shoe to drop, it probably will. macmillandictionary.com); be prepared for a further or consequential event or complication to occur (But part of me is waiting for the other shoe to drop. • And it's getting on my nerves, because it's like waiting for the other shoe to drop. • Rather than thanking him for the compliment, I only nod, waiting for the other shoe to drop. • I think owners aren't doing much now because they are waiting for the other shoe to drop. • ‘With you…’ he looked away, unable to speak for a moment. ‘I was always waiting for the other shoe to drop’. • Before going into the bathroom, I waited for the other shoe to drop, my wake-up call. • Normally this would be good news, since the steel tariffs were bad policy, but I think I'll wait for the other shoe to drop before I breathe a sigh of relief. • We worry, and although Michelle is doing well, we wait for the other shoe to drop. • While Francois thinks he has the best of both worlds, I was waiting for the other shoe to drop. • Comfort in a relationship is key, and always waiting for the other shoe to drop is to be always looking over your shoulder. lexico.com) |
