Here's the breakdown:
* Wings: In a traditional theater, the wings are the areas offstage to the left and right of the main stage. Actors would wait in these areas, concealed from the audience, until they were ready to make their entrance.
* Waiting in the wings: This refers to the act of being backstage, prepared to go on stage and perform.
Metaphorical Usage:
The idiom is used metaphorically to describe someone or something that is ready and waiting for an opportunity to become active or take center stage. It implies that something is poised to emerge or make an impact.
Example:
* "With the current CEO retiring, the company's top competitor is waiting in the wings to make a hostile takeover bid."
* "The young artist has been waiting in the wings for years, finally getting her big break with this gallery exhibition."
Origin:
The phrase "waiting in the wings" likely originated in the 18th century, during the rise of professional theater. As theaters became more elaborate, the use of wings became more common, and the phrase naturally evolved to describe the actors' position.
By the 19th century, the idiom had entered common usage, and its metaphorical meaning was well-established.