From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishthe wingsthe wings[plural]APT the parts at each side of a stage where actors are hidden from people who are watching the play → wing
Examples from the Corpus
the wings• Special care is needed if the wings are wet when extra speed is necessary, because the stalling speed is raised.• Many unforeseen dangers may be lurking in the wings.• Scheiner was still in the wings at the time of the trial.• The world's list of mammals is about five thousand long, but three thousand more may be waiting in the wings.• None the less, there are always people waiting in the wings to discredit a positive image.• Why do they think the wings are designed this way? 