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sit tight

to wait patiently

In Idioms & Sayings

In more detail

to wait patiently without moving or taking action; to stay in your current position and not leave

Examples

• Sit tight—the doctor will see you soon.
• Just sit tight and don't worry; everything will be fine.

How to use sit tight

Sit tight is an informal phrasal expression used to encourage someone to remain patient and inactive during a period of waiting or uncertainty. It often implies reassurance that the current situation will resolve itself or that action will be taken soon. The tone is casual and encouraging, frequently used in conversational contexts.

Register: informal

Common phrases

• sit tight and wait
• just sit tight
• sit tight for now
• sit tight while
• tell someone to sit tight

Synonyms

wait patiently · hold your horses · stay put · hang in there · keep still

Opposites

move on · take action · leave

A common mistake

Learners sometimes confuse this with literal sitting or use it in formal written contexts where 'remain patient' or 'await further developments' would be more appropriate.

Nearby in Idioms & Sayings

put all your eggs in one basket, put the cart before the horse, see eye to eye, steal someone's thunder, the whole nine yards, throw caution to the wind

Keep going

How to remember the words you read · Spaced repetition, explained