満を持す

Etymology
Verb phrase comprised of. Literally, "to hold the fullness", and figuratively, "to keep one's bow fully drawn".

First attested in Japanese in the 1827 work, the Nihon Gaishi by Rai San'yō.

From the "Hereditary Houses" chapter within the Records of the Grand Historian covering the hereditary lineage of Zhou Bo. During the Western Han dynasty, the emperor was visiting a general, Zhou Yafu, who was guarding against barbarians to the north. His soldiers were properly armoured, with swords sharpened, and bows drawn with arrows ready to be loosed at any time. However, regardless of what orders the emperor gave the soldiers, they refused to stand down and return to the camp, because Zhou Yafu had trained his soldiers to only follow the general's orders.

Verb

 * 1) to wait for the perfect opportunity, to wait for the right time, to bide one's time