lie in wait

intransitive verb

1. to stay in a place or remain in readiness or in anticipation (until something expected happens or for someone to arrive or catch up)
2. to be ready or at hand: dinner was waiting for them
3. to remain temporarily undone or neglected: let that job wait
4. to serve food at a meal: with at or on: to wait at table, to wait on a person

transitive verb

1. to be, remain, or delay in expectation or anticipation of; await: to wait orders, to wait one's turn
2. Informal to delay serving (a meal) as in waiting for someone: to wait dinner
3. Obsolete to attend upon or escort, esp. as a token of respect or honor
4. Obsolete to attend as a consequence

noun

1. the act or fact of waiting
2. a period of waiting: a four-hour wait
3. in England,
   1. any of a group of singers and musicians who go through the streets at Christmastime performing songs and carols for small gifts of money
   2. any tune so performed
4. Obsolete a member of a band of musicians formerly employed by a city or town in England to play at entertainments
5. Obsolete a watchman