English Idioms and Idiomatic Expressions
TIME, page 3
Idioms relating to Time
from:
'time flies' to:
'just a matter of time'
- time flies
- This expression is used to express surprise at how fast time
passes (usually in a very active or happy situation).
"It's hard to believe we've been living here two years already. Time flies!"
- This expression is used to express surprise at how fast time
passes (usually in a very active or happy situation).
- time on your hands
- If you have time on your hands, you have a lot of
free time, usually more than you need or want.
"Since he retired, Bill has too much time on his hands. He should take up a hobby."
- If you have time on your hands, you have a lot of
free time, usually more than you need or want.
- have the time of your life
- If you have the time of our life, you enjoy yourself
very much.
"The kids had the time of their lives at Disneyland."
- If you have the time of our life, you enjoy yourself
very much.
- time on your side
- If you have time on your side, you can afford to
wait before doing or achieving something.
"He didn't succeed this time, but he's young enough to try again. He's got time on his side."
- If you have time on your side, you can afford to
wait before doing or achieving something.
- the time is ripe
- If the time is ripe for something, it is the right
moment to do it.
"He sold his business when the time was ripe."
- If the time is ripe for something, it is the right
moment to do it.
- time is ticking away
- The expression 'time is ticking away' can be used when
you see the minutes or seconds going by as the clock ticks, especially when you are
waiting anxiously for something to happen.
"We need to intervene before it's too late. Time's ticking away."
- The expression 'time is ticking away' can be used when
you see the minutes or seconds going by as the clock ticks, especially when you are
waiting anxiously for something to happen.
- a time-honoured practice
- A custom that is universally respected,
or a traditional way of doing something, is
called a time-honoured practice.
"Guests were greeted according to a time-honored practice."
- A custom that is universally respected,
or a traditional way of doing something, is
called a time-honoured practice.
- for the time being
- If you talk about how a situation is for the time being,
you mean that it is temporary and will probably change in the future.
"Laura has left John and is living with her parents for the time being."
- If you talk about how a situation is for the time being,
you mean that it is temporary and will probably change in the future.
- living on borrowed time
- This expression refers to a period of time
after an illness or accident which could have caused death.
"After heart surgery, many patients feel that they're living on borrowed time."
- This expression refers to a period of time
after an illness or accident which could have caused death.
- lose track of time
- When you give all your attention to something and become so
engrossed in it that you don't realize what time it is, you lose track of time.
"Whenever I start surfing on the web, I lose track of time."
- When you give all your attention to something and become so
engrossed in it that you don't realize what time it is, you lose track of time.
- make up for lost time
- If you make up for lost time, you increase
your efforts or work harder to complete something or meet a deadline.
"Progress has stopped because of bad weather, but we are determined to make up for lost time."
- If you make up for lost time, you increase
your efforts or work harder to complete something or meet a deadline.
- only/just a matter of time
- If you say that it is only or just a matter of time
before (or until) something happens, it is certain to happen or will inevitably take place,
although you do not know when.
"Restrictive measures will have to be introduced. It's just a matter of time."
- If you say that it is only or just a matter of time
before (or until) something happens, it is certain to happen or will inevitably take place,
although you do not know when.
previous page... next page ...
More Idioms:
Time ...
Alphabetical lists: