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Time idioms

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on time


'The trains always run on time in my country. They are never late.'

time flies

This common idiom means that time passes quickly.

'Time flies when you are having fun.'

in the nick of time


'My team scored in the nick of time. The game was in the last few seconds.'

turn back the hands of time


'If I could turn back the hands of time, I wouldn't have done what I did.'

save time

We save time when we do something the quick way.

'We will save time if we drive instead of taking the bus.'

spare time


'In my spare time I like to learn English.'

as time goes by


'As time has gone by I have become less interested in going to nightclubs on the weekends.'

out of time


'Please stop writing. You are out of time. The exam has finished.'

make time


'I know that you are busy, but you will have to make time to attend the meeting.'

time for a change



time is money


'I can't wait here all day. Time is money, you know?'

time heals all wounds


'I was sad for a long time after I broke up with my boyfriend, but time heals all wounds. I'm fine now.'

only time will tell


'Will we ever have peace in the world? Only time will tell.'

kill time



time after time



time off

Time off means to take a holiday from work.

'You are working too much. You need to take some time off.'

a waste of time


It's a waste of time calling that company. They never answer the telephones.'

a hard time


'She's had a hard time recently; she lost her job and then her mother died.'
'I had a hard time trying to find this place. The directions you gave me were terrible!'

too much time on my hands


'He watches so much TV because he has too much time on his hands.' He needs to get a job.'

a whale of a time



  • I spent 5 hours writing that report and then my boss told me that he didn't need it. What a ___!

  • I like to play the guitar? What do you do in your ___?

  • I got on the train a second before it left. I was just ___.

  • Look! I can't believe it. It's 5pm already. ___ when you are having fun!

  • I don't want to go on holiday to Spain again this year. I think it's ___ and to go somewhere different.

  • ___ he forgets my birthday. Every year is the same. He never remembers.

  • ___ if the price of oil will fall in the future.

  • You are sad now, but you will be ok in a couple of weeks. Remember, ___.

  • I'm never late for work. I always arrive ___.

  • That nightclub is fantastic! I had ___