croquer le marmot

Literally, “to pound on the marmot (an old-fashioned ornamental door knocker)”. The implication is one is waiting a long time for somebody to come to the door.

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croquer le marmot

1. to wait around for a long time. [since 19th C]
   • 1879, Joris-Karl Huysmans, Les Sœurs Vatard‎:

     […] avant qu’elle n’eût franchi le couloir et la porte d’entrée, Auguste croquait le marmot depuis plus de trois quarts d’heure.

     […] by the time she walked down the hallway and through the front door, Augusta had been waiting around for over three quarters of an hour.