Angela Karavas's English Blog: Σεπτεμβρίου 2018

Τετάρτη 26 Σεπτεμβρίου 2018

Expressions with TIME

Commonly-used expressions - Expressions with TIME

Expression	Meaning	Example
As time goes by	As the time passes	*As time goes by* I have become more aware of the necessity to preserve our planet.
Ahead of time	In advance, before the set time	If I finish the project *ahead of time* I'll be able to focus on the presentation.
Behind the times	Be old-fashioned; have ideas that are out of date	The way he runs his coffee shop is completely *behind the times.*
*By the* time**	Before reaching the time when something happens (with no specific time mentioned).	*By the time* Julie arrived at the station the train had left.
*By this* time**	Similar to 'before now'. At some time before the present moment (a specific time).	Look at the time! It's midnight. By this time I'm usually asleep in bed!
*By that* time**	Similar to 'before then'. Before a specific time in the past or the future.	- Past: Julie arrived at the station at 11.15, but *by that time* the train had left. - Future: What will I be doing in 2070? Not much because *by that time* I'll be an old man!
Do/serve time	Spend time in prison	He's *doing time* for a bank robbery.
For the time being	For the moment; temporarily	Laura has left John and is living with her parents *for the time being*.
Have the time of your life	Enjoy yourself very much	The kids had *the time of their lives* at Disneyland.
High time	Past the appropriate time	It's *high time* you got out of bed!.
In the nick of time/ Just in time	At the last minute, before it's too late	We arrived in the nick of time. The bus was about to leave!
Make time	Find the time to do something	It's important to *make time* for your family.
Matter of time	Not long before something happens	It's only a *matter of time* before the company is taken over.
Pass the time	Occupy yourself while waiting	The train was late so I made some phone calls to *pass the time*.
Pressed for time	Need to hurry	How long will it take? I'm really *pressed for time*.
Race against time	Have to work quickly to get something done before a set time	It was a *race against time* to get everything ready for the inauguration.
Run out of time	Have no time left	Paul *ran out of time* and had to finish the test quickly.
Save time	Do something the quickest way	We'll *save time* if we go through the park.
Short of time	Not have much time	I'll be brief because we're *short of time*.
Spend time	Pass time doing something	How much time do you *spend* on your homework?
Stand the test of time	Something still found valuable and useful after many years	The teaching method *has stood the test of time*. It is still used in schools today.
Time after time	Do something again and again; repeatedly	*Time after time* Alex arrives late at school.
Time flies	Time goes by or passes very quickly.	It's hard to believe we've been living here two years already. Time flies!
Time is money	Time should not be wasted because you could be using it to earn money.	Don't waste time on minor details. *Time is money!*
Time is ripe	A suitable time to do something	I'll wait until the *time is ripe* before asking my parents to lend me the money.
Time will tell	Only in the future will the result be known	Have we made the right choice? (Only) *time will tell*.
Waste time	Spend too much time on something	Don't *waste time* on unimportant details.
(A) waste of time	Spend too much time on something pointless or useless	It's a *waste of time* calling them. You'lll just get an answering machine!

Considering that time is such a critical element in our lives, it’s no surprise that the word time should crop up so often in English idiomatic usage. Here’s a list of phrases that refer directly to time.

1. a devil of a time: said of an ordeal
2. a legend in one’s own time: one who gains renown within his or her lifetime (also inspired “a legend in (one’s) own mind,” referring to an egotistical person who believes himself or herself to be more significant than he or she actually is)
3–4. a matter/question of time: said in reference to a state that will soon change
5. a rare old time: an enjoyable experience
6. a race against time: said of trying to accomplish something critical in a short time frame
7. a stitch in time: the first half of a proverb (ending with “saves nine” and with an obscure origin) that refers to the wisdom of taking precaution
8. a whale of a (good) time: an especially exciting or fun experience
9. ahead of time: before the agreed time
10. ahead of (one’s) time: said of someone or something that has an innovative approach or style or one that the world is not ready for
11. all in good time: an expression that encourages patience
12. all the time in the world: an unlimited amount of time
13. all the time: in addition to referring to habitual or continuous occurrence, can refer to knowing about something throughout a given period
14. at a set time: at the agreed time
15. at all times: always
16. at no time: never
17. at the appointed time: at the agreed time
18. bad time: an inconvenient moment or an unfortunate experience
19. before (one’s) time: said of something that existed or occurred before one was born or when one was too young to recall that thing, or said in reference to someone’s unexpectedly early death
20–21. behind its time/the times: late, not keeping up, or obsolete
22. bide (one’s) time: be patient
23. big-time operator: someone who is or thinks he or she is important or influential
24. big-time spender: one who spends a lot of money, or said ironically about a frugal person
25. borrowed time: an uncertain amount of time, at the end of which something will no longer exist or occur
26. buy time: postpone an event for one’s advantage
27. by the time: said in reference to a time after something else has occurred
28. caught in a time warp: unchanged in an antiquated or obsolete way
29. crunch time: a critical period
30. face time: time spent in someone else’s company
31. for the time being: for now
32. from time to time: occasionally
33. do (the) time: serve time in jail or prison
34. down time: rest period
35. get the time: become available
36. give (one) a hard time: be critical
37. good-time Charlie: one who seeks pleasure
38. good times: pleasant experiences
39. hardly have time to breathe: said when one is busy
40. have a time of it: experience difficulty
41. having quite a time: having a pleasurable experience, or having difficulty
42. have time on (one’s side): don’t have to hurry
43. I’ll catch you some other time: I’ll talk to you later when it’s more convenient for you
44. in next to no time: almost instantly
45. in the fullness of time: after enough time passes
46. in the right place at the right time: in a figurative sense, fortuitously prepared for some eventuality; also, literally, located in a position that is advantageous or fortunate
47. it’s about time: said to express impatience, or relief that something has finally occurred (usually accompanied by an exclamation point)
48. it’s high time: it is the appropriate time; one has waited long enough
49. keep time: maintain the beat in music
50. lose no time: do something immediately
51. make good time: proceed quickly or in a reasonable amount of time
52. make time for: set aside a period of time to accommodate someone or something
53. make up for lost time: catch up on time wasted or as a result of going slowly or not going at all
54. mark time: wait
55. not able to call (one’s) time (one’s) own: too busy
56. old-time: old-fashioned
57. on time: punctual
58. once upon a time: long ago
59. out of time: said in reference to no longer having time to do something
60. pass the time (of day) with: chat with
61. pressed for time: lacking enough time to do something
62. run that by me one more time: say that again
63. sands of time: a poetic reference to the passage of time as represented by sand in an hourglass
64. the big time: said in reference to achieving prominence in some endeavor
65. the time has come: the occasion is appropriate
66. the time of (one’s) life: a memorable experience
67. time and tide wait for no man: the world makes no allowance for one being late
68. time bomb: something that will inevitably result in a negative consequence
69. time flies: a reference to the fleeting nature of time
70. time is money: time is important because using it wisely or unwisely affects one’s ability to earn money
71. time on (one’s) hands: spare time
72. time out: in sports, a short period when play ceases; by extension, a break from activity (also used as the announcement of a request for a time out, as is time by itself)
73. (stuck in a) time warp: said in reference to observing something that or someone who appears outdated
74. time was: there was a time when
75. time’s a-wastin’: time is running out
76. time to hit the road: time to depart
77. time works wonders: the passage of time resolves problems
78. when the time is ripe: when the time is appropriate
79. withstand the test of time: endure
80. wouldn’t give (one) the time of day to: ignored