[Idiom] WAIT FOR THE OTHER SHOE TO DROP. - How to Stay Prepared for Future Events in Professional Settings
Wait for the other shoe to drop.
Anticipate further developments.
Waiting for the other shoe to drop' describes the anticipation of an inevitable event, usually following a precursor that leads to heightened suspense. It originally stems from a situation where someone hears a neighbor drop one shoe on the floor above and then anxiously waits for the second shoe to make a sound. In a broader sense, it’s often used when someone senses that, following a significant change or revelation, there is yet another impactful event to come. For example, after a company announces a major layoff, employees might 'wait for the other shoe to drop'—perhaps a restructuring of roles or another round of layoffs.
Example Sentences
Everyone's just waiting for the other shoe to drop.
Everyone is anxious, waiting for the next negative event.
The team felt anxious, waiting for the other shoe to drop.
The team was nervous, expecting more bad news.
After the initial bad news, we were all expecting the other shoe to drop.
After the initial bad news, everyone was anticipating additional negative outcomes.