3
general::
patience
verbs
have the patience to do something
• He didn't have the patience to listen to another point of view.
have little/no patience with somebody
• I'm afraid I have little patience with bureaucrats and their official rules.
lose patience (with somebody)
• Eventually his family lost patience with him and his irresponsible behaviour.
run out of patience (with somebody)
• She was wonderful with the children, and never ran out of patience.
try/test/tax somebody's patience
(= make it difficult for someone to continue to be patient )
• The guy at the desk was beginning to try my patience.
exhaust somebody's patience
(= make someone lose patience )
• He turned away from me, as if I had exhausted his patience.
somebody's patience is wearing thin
(= they are becoming angry )
• People's patience is wearing thin as the queues for visas get longer.
somebody's patience snaps
(= they suddenly show their anger )
• Celia's patience snapped when he dropped a second glass of wine on the carpet.
somebody's patience is rewarded
(= they get what they were hoping and waiting to get )
• After two hours, their patience was rewarded and they saw the bird.
adjectives
great patience
• Painting by this method requires great patience.
infinite/endless/unlimited patience
• She was lucky to have a maths teacher with infinite patience.
phrases
the patience of Job/a saint
(= very great patience )
• Those children would try the patience of a saint.
transnet.ir
4
general::
noun ADJ. endless, great, infinite VERB + PATIENCE exercise, have, show They thanked him for showing so much patience. | lack | be out of, lose, run out of It is quite clear that they are out of patience with me. We eventually ran out of patience with his childish behaviour. | keep I find it hard to keep my patience with them. | require, take Above all, fishing requires great patience. | exhaust, stretch, tax, test, try The children were beginning to try my patience. PATIENCE + VERB be exhausted, run out, snap, wear thin Molly could see Mr Kirkham's patience was running out, so she shut up. Her patience snapped and she walked out. | be rewarded Our patience was finally rewarded and we got the band's autographs. PREP. with ~ She listened with infinite patience to his excuses. | ~ for He has little patience for people who don't work. | ~ with The fans were losing patience with the team. PHRASES the patience of a saint These endless meetings are enough to tax the patience of a saint.
Oxford Collocations Dictionary