In The Blink of an Eye: Time Idioms to Color Your Speech
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John F. Kennedy once said: "We must use time as a tool, not as a couch." And that is exactly what we are going to do today – use "time" as a tool to improve your English! Intrigued? That's great! Fortunately for you, we are not time thieves, so we are immediately introducing this article's subject. Today we are about to learn time idioms, phrases, and expressions! Are you excited to learn clock idioms, idioms about time passing, and idioms for wasting time? Then hop on board!
Time Idioms To Spice It Up
Every language has its own idioms about time, and English won't be an exception. However, there are many common idioms about time that add some color to our everyday speech. And if you want to seem like a pro-English learner, you definitely need to memorize some from the list below.
Clock Idioms
Beat the clock
Meaning: to finish something before a deadline
Example: My brother has no choice except to beat the clock before our mum returns from work.
Work against the clock
Meaning: to work as fast and hard as possible to complete a task before a specific time
Example: The whole team works against the clock to launch the app in the morning.
To clock on / off
Meaning: to record the time when you come to and leave the workplace
Example: Housekeepers in this hotel must clock on and off every day.
Other Idioms About Time Passing
The eleventh hour
Meaning: when something happens at the very last minute
Example: I was fully dressed and leaving my apartment when she canceled a date at the eleventh hour.
In the blink of an eye
Meaning: when something happens very quickly
Example: In the blink of an eye, they married and had their first child.
Like sand through an hourglass
Meaning: life passes very quickly
Example: We all need to leave our mark in history because time is slipping by like sand through an hourglass
Time flies
Meaning: time passes by quickly
Example: It seems like we arrived here just yesterday. I guess time flies when you are with the right person.
Wasting time
Meaning: time doing something meaningless or unimportant
Example: Studying in a medical college is too hard for you. Admit that, and stop wasting your time.
Time Phrases Worth Adding to Your Glossary
Time-consuming
Meaning: when something takes a lot of time to be done
Example: I didn't expect this interview to be so time-consuming.
One thing at a time
Meaning: to do or deal with one thing and move to another only when you finish with the previous
Example: You need to stop putting more things on your plate. Please, do one thing at a time, it's more effective.
Give a hard time
Meaning: to make things difficult or someone's life miserable
Example: Young parents are usually not ready for the baby to give them a hard time at night.
Be short of time
Meaning: when someone doesn't have enough time
Example: Chop-chop, we are short of time because the shop closes in 15 minutes and you still haven't found a suitable pair of jeans.
Play for time
Meaning: to delay something
Example: If you ever get caught, ask for a lawyer to play for time.
Behind the times
Meaning: old-fashioned, out of touch
Example: The royal family was claimed to be behind the times.
A devil/hell of a time
Meaning: an extremely difficult or unpleasant experience
Example: People got so used to COVID that every time it's a devil time to make them test when they feel symptoms.
Only a matter of time
Meaning: something will happen at some time in future
Example: We all know what Emily did. It's only a matter of time before she gets what she deserves.
The big time
Meaning: to a great extent
Example: I've messed up big time, but I still want to be with you.
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Expressions About Time For Everyday Use
On time
Meaning: when something happened when it was scheduled before, not sooner or later
Example: The meeting started on time, but Mike came 5 minutes later.
In time
Meaning: a little before the scheduled time
Example: We agreed to meet twenty minutes before the show, but I arrived in time and made to order drinks for both of us.
Just in time/ In the nick of time
Meaning: immediately before the scheduled time, right before it was too late
Example: I thought I would be late for that date, but I made it to get to the Green Village just in time.
In good time
Meaning: with no risk of being late; when the appropriate moment arrives
Example: Mom, when will you buy me a car? Carry, you are not even 16 yet, all in good time.
In one's own time
Meaning: during your personal time and not at work, without a hurry
Example: I wish I could finish this task in my own time, but James needs it done in an hour.
About time
Meaning: expressing anger and feeling of being annoyed that something is late but should've happened sooner
Example: Camila is 42 weeks pregnant! It's about time for this baby to be born!
Time off
Meaning: to take a holiday or vacation to rest from work or studies
Example: You missed our office Mafia game on Friday night. Yes, I had some time off that week.
Take your time
Meaning: not to harry and go at your own pace
Example: You can take your time in the store, honey. It is still a half-time show.
Make time
Meaning: to find time to do something
Example: Girls, make time for everyday practices in your schedule for the next months because we will win this championship.
Time will tell
Meaning: the truth or results will be known only in the future
Example: Chris believes that his tv show will be a huge success, but only time will tell.
Time is money
Meaning: it's better to do something quickly because time is an asset
Example: I don't recommend asking these questions later as a lawyer. Time is money, so bring all your questions to the table now.
To kill time
Meaning: to do something to make time seem to pass quicker
Example: The gym is still closed, but we can kill time at dinner across the street.
Time after time
Meaning: again and again
Example: Why do I need to remind you time after time that you should go to school whether you like it or not?
A whale of a time
Meaning: a really good time
Example: I couldn't be more grateful for the movie premiere tickets. We had a whale of a time.
Learn Idioms About Time With Promova
As an English learner, you need to understand that memorizing time idioms alone won't help you to become fluent in English. Nonetheless, time phrases and idioms about time can become a part of your personalized learning plan if you start learning English with Promova.
Promova is a universal one-stop multitool for learning languages with a personalized approach to achieving language proficiency. The app offers English courses for different learning purposes – General English, Travel English, Business English, and English with TV series. You can pass a quick test to determine your level, goals, and needs to prepare a guided course to improve your skills. We highly recommend you learn English through English to fully immerse in the language. In the General English Course, you will discover a bite-sized lesson with time phrases from this article. Our cute flashcards and the spaced repetition method will help you integrate time phrases into long-term memory.
Also, Promova offers individual and group tutoring lessons with certified English teachers for different levels and needs. If you decide to go with individual classes, the tutor will create a personalized plan considering your preferences and learning methods that work best for you. For instance, if you want to learn idioms about time, just let your tutor know, and you will receive a lot of practice covering this topic. The first trial lesson is always free for new learners.
Learning languages can be fun, easy, and goal-oriented if you learn with Promova!
Conclusion
This article was aimed to set you free from problems with time, at least those related to time idioms, phrases, and expressions. Now you know how to tap into idioms and expressions about time without concerns about misunderstanding something. Whatever you feel like your everyday speech gets a bit plain, you can spice it up with time phrases. So keep calm and learn English vocabulary to achieve your goals!
FAQ
What is an idiom?
The term "idiom" originated from the ancient Greek word "idioma," which means "peculiar phraseology." And that is a good way to explain the definition of the term. Nonetheless, to fully understand what an idiom is, we need to break down its meaning.
An idiom is a fixed phrase or expression containing a figurative meaning that can't be deciphered by defining its individual words. Idioms can't be translated word-for-word from one language to another because they were formed due to different cultural events and reflects the sometimes relevant experience of a specific group of people united by the same language. The equivalents to some idioms might not even exist in particular languages because of the lack of cultural experience. Idioms are unique to their language of origin.
What is the function of idioms?
As for any part of the language, the primary function of idioms is to help people communicate effectively. Nonetheless, idioms stand out from other words combined because of their figurative meaning. And that figurativeness is an essential component of someone's speech. Idioms aim to spice our everyday language out and add more color to it. Knowing and implementing idioms in your speech demonstrate higher English proficiency. In literature, they help to engage the reader and boost their imagination from thinking literally to abstractly. Idioms also help to integrate into the culture of the country whose language you are learning. When you start using idioms to express yourself, it indicates that you finally "feel" the language.
What is the difference between a time idiom and a fixed time phrase?
Both idioms and fixed phrases are groups of specific words combined to convey words' meanings. And according to this, idioms belong to fixed phrases. However, not all fixed phrases can be idioms. The main difference is that idioms always have figurative meanings, while many fixed phrases have literal or close-to-literal meanings. For instance, "rain cats and dogs" can't literally mean anything. Instead, that is an idiom that means “rain very hard. ”
How do people say time in English?
It might seem pretty odd to the rest of the world, but there is no 24-hour system in English. In English-speaking countries, people use numbers from 1 to 11 and a.m. and p.m. to point out what half of the day they mean. The hours 12 and 24 are not pronounced as numbers. English speakers call them noon and midnight. So, if you tell a person you want to meet at 15:30, they will be confused. More likely, they still will be able to get what you wanted to say, but the feeling will be mixed because it's still incorrect in English.
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