English · Idiom Historical

Watchful Waiting

Preserved but no longer current.

Meaning · English

A phrase used by Presi- dent Wilson in 1915 to describe the policy of the U.S.A. towards Mexico, whose attitude was extremely unfriendly and provocative.

Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)

Sources & notes

Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.

Topics: Historical slang (1800s)

Common questions

What does “Watchful Waiting” mean?

A phrase used by Presi- dent Wilson in 1915 to describe the policy of the U.S.A. towards Mexico, whose attitude was extremely unfriendly and provocative.

Is “Watchful Waiting” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.

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