lange auf sich warten lassen
Translation
to be a long time coming, to take a long time
Examples
Die Antwort ließ lange auf sich warten.
The answer was a long time coming.
Der Erfolg ließ nicht lange auf sich warten.
Success was not long in coming.
Grammar Patterns
((sth.)) is a long time coming sth. takes a long time The answer was a long time coming.
Similar Words
Synonyms: sich verzögern (to be delayed), dauern (to take time)
Etymology
Literally 'to let (something) wait long for itself'. It's a figurative way of saying something is delayed.
Memory Tips
Imagine an event or an object personified, making you wait for it. It 'lets itself be waited for'.