TIME Idioms: 40+ Useful Sayings and Idioms about Time

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Time Idioms and Sayings! List of common phrases and idioms about time in English with meaning, ESL picture and example sentences. Learn these time idioms to improve your vocabulary as well as speaking skills in English.

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Time Idioms and Expressions

List of Time Idioms in English

List of idiomatic expressions about time.

Time Idioms and Sayings with Meaning and Examples

List of idioms about time with meaning and example sentences.

Time Idioms and Expressions (A)

15 Minutes Of Fame

Meaning: A very short time in the spotlight or brief flurry with fame, after which the person or subject involved is quickly forgotten
Example: Teen pop stars tend to have their 15 minutes of fame, after which you’ll hardly remember them.

Note: Said to have been coined by American artist Andy Warhol.

A Week is A Long Time In

Meaning: In the field mentioned, the situation may change rapidly.
Example: A week is a long time in politics – A candidate ahead in the polls may drop out of the race a few days later.

About Time

Meaning: Far past the desired time.
Example: I washed the dishes. It’s about time! They were piled up on the counter.

About To

Meaning: On the point of, occurring imminently
Example: We were about to go home, but Susan finally showed up at the mall.

Against the Clock

Meaning: In a very limited amount of time; with a shortage of time being the main problem
Example: We left later than we were supposed to, so it was a race against the clock to get tothe airport on time.

Ahead Of the Curve

Meaning: Innovative, devising new ideas in advance of others
Example: Tesla cars are expensive, but the company’s ideas are ahead of the curve, and other carmakers are beginning to adopt them.

All Along

Meaning: For the entire time something has been happening
Example: Jeff knew all along that the project would succeed. He can recognize a superior team.

All in Good Time

Meaning: Eventually; at a more favorable time in the future. This phrase encourages one to be patient.
Example: I know you wish your house had sold already, but all in good time.

Around the Clock

Meaning: At all times
Example: The restaurant is open around the clock. If you go in at 3 a.m., you’ll meet police officers and ambulance drivers.

At the End of the Day … (X Will Happen.)

Meaning: In the final analysis, when all is said and done
Example: Yes, there will be problems if we enter the South American market, but at the end of the day there are large profits to be made there.

Time Idioms and Expressions (B)

List of expressions and idioms about time that start with B.

Behind the Times

Meaning: Old-fashioned
Example: Blackberry phones used to be extremely popular, but now many people think they’re behind the times.

Better Late Than Never

Meaning: It implies that a belated achievement is better than not reaching a goal at all.
Example: I’m sorry my gift came late, but better late than never, right?

Beat the Clock

Meaning: Perform a task quickly or within a fixed time limit
Example: John beat the clock, arriving a few minutes before the doors were locked.

Big Time

Meaning: If you do something big time, you do it to a great degree.
Example: Chrissy’s into skiing big time.

Buy Time

Meaning: Cause a delay in something with the aim of improving one’s position
Example: I know you don’t want to take out another loan, but it will buy time until the new factory comes online.

Time Idioms and Expressions (C)

List of expressions and idioms about time that start with C.

Call Time

Meaning: To end something
Example: The boxer is ready to call time on his long career.

Call It a Day / Night

Meaning: To stop working, either at one’s job or on a particular task, for the rest of the day
Example: You all look tired. Let’s call it a day.

Carry the Day

Meaning: Be victorious or successful
Example: Teamwork and training will carry the day.

Coming Down the Pike

Meaning: Likely to occur in the near future
Example: We solved the sales crisis, but I see more problems coming down the pike.

Note: This is informal and rather old-fashioned.

(Seen in the) Cold Light of Day

Meaning: From a realistic rather than wishful perspective
Example: Seen in the cold light of day, our plan is unlikely to work.

Time Idioms and Expressions (D, F, H)

List of expressions and idioms about time that start with D, F, H.

(Your) Days Are Numbered

Meaning: (You) will die soon.
Example: Your days are numbered if you keep driving while drunk.

Note: This idiom is of biblical origin.

Fifteen Minutes of Fame

Meaning: Temporary renown
Example: The boy band had its fifteen minutes of fame with its first album, but its second album bombed.

Note: The phrase was suggested by American artist Andy Warhol, who said, “In the future, everyone will be world-famous for 15 minutes”

Have the Time of Your Life

Meaning: To have a very fun, exciting, or enjoyable time
Example: I traveled to France for the first time last summer, and I had the time of my life.

Here Today, Gone Tomorrow

Meaning: Said of something that is short-lived
Example: Many of the new Internet companies are here today, gone tomorrow.

Time Idioms and Expressions (I)

List of expressions and idioms about time that start with I.

In a New York Minute (Southern U.S.)

Meaning: Very quickly
Example: I’d buy that car in a New York minute if I had the money.

Note: This expression is regional American. New Yorkers don’t use it.

In Broad Daylight

Meaning: When something occurs in broad daylight, it means the event is clearly visible
Example: The gangland feud is getting so bad that people are being shot in broad daylight.

In the Blink of an Eye

Meaning: Quickly, seemingly instantaneously
Example: I had a beautiful family, a nice home, and lots of money. And then, in the blink of an eye, it was all gone.

In the Dark

Meaning: Unaware of something
Example: Kevin says he was completely in the dark about the CEO’s plans to sell the company.

In the Interim

Meaning: It denotes a period of time between something that ended and something that happened afterwards
Example: We’re in the process of hiring a new social media director, but in the interim we’ll have to make do with our current staff.

In the Long Run

Meaning: Over an extended period of time
Example: It will cost us a lot to invest in new equipment, but in the long run we’ll save money.

Note: You can also say “in the short run.”

In the Nick of Time

Meaning: Just in time; with no time to spare
Example: We were going to leave without you, but you got here just in the nick of time.

Time Idioms and Expressions (I, K, L, M)

List of expressions and idioms about time that start with I, K, L, M.

Kill Time

Meaning: To do something which is not very useful or interesting to pass time
Example: We played cards to kill time until the bus came.

Living on Borrowed Time

Meaning: Living on although threatened by death
Example: Accidents and disease can strike so unexpectedly that it feels like we’re all living on borrowed time.

May-December (adj.)

Meaning: Significantly different in age. Said of couples where one member is much older. The most common usage is May-December romance.
Example: Bert is enjoying the benefits of a May-December romance. He married a much younger woman. Criticize him if you like, but he’s livelier than he’s been in years.

Month of Sundays

Meaning: A long time, many months
Example: I’m glad you dropped by! It’s been a month of Sundays since I saw you last.

Time Idioms and Expressions (N, O, Q)

List of expressions and idioms about time that start with N, O, Q.

Not Ready for Prime Time

Meaning: Not yet perfected; inexperienced
Example: Machine translation has improved for some languages, but for Chinese to English it’s still not ready for prime time.

Note: Prime time” on North American television is the main viewing period of 8 to 11 p.m.

On the Spot

Meaning: Immediately, with no intervening time
Example: When I said I would move to New York, she offered me the job on the spot.

On the Spur of the Moment

Meaning: This popular saying denotes a spontaneous or sudden undertaking.
Example: You’ve got to stop making decisions about your business on the spur of the moment like this.

Once in a Blue Moon

Meaning: This idiom means something is rare or infrequent
Example: Peter only comes out for a drink once in blue moon now that he has kids.

(Once In A) Blue Moon

Meaning: Very rarely.
Example: Once in a blue moon you see the Aurora here, but it’s not like farther north.

Once in a While

Meaning: Occasionally
Example: I don’t want to live in the city, but I enjoy visiting once in a while.

Open Season

Meaning: A time when someone can be criticized or attacked without restriction.
Example: It’s been open season on Susan ever since she made mistakes in the new advertising campaign. But I think she’s basically done a good job.

Note: This idiom is often used with “on,” as in the example.

Quarter Past

Meaning: Fifteen minutes after the hour
Example: I’ll meet you at the mall at a quarter past six, and we’ll go shopping.

Quarter To/Of

Meaning: Fifteen minutes before the hour
Example: I’ll meet you at the mall at a quarter to six, and we’ll see the movie.

Note: A quarter of six, used to mean X:45, is counter intuitive, but it is sometimes used.

Time Idioms and Expressions (S, T, Y)

List of expressions and idioms about time that start with S, T, Y.

Seize the Day

Meaning: Take an opportunity
Example: We should seize the day while prices are low. That won’t last forever.

Note: This is a translation of the Latin “carpe diem.”

Serve Time

Meaning: To spend time in jail as part of a prison sentence
Example: After serving his time, the assailant will be deported back to his home country.

Six Ways to (from) Sunday (UK)

Meaning: In every possible way
Example: After questioning me six ways to Sunday, the police finally let me go.

Take Your Time

Meaning: Don’t hurry, work at a relaxed pace
Example: Take your time on the exam. You don’t get a bonus for finishing quickly.

The Time is Ripe

Meaning: If you say that the time is ripe, you mean that it is a suitable point for a particular activity
Example: I’m waiting till the time is ripe before I tell my parents that I failed my two exams.

Time is Money

Meaning: Time is valuable, so don’t waste it.
Example: I can’t afford to spend a lot of time standing here talking. Time is money, you know!

Twenty-Four Seven

- Meaning: At any time
- Example: If you have problems, call me twenty-four seven; it doesn’t matter if I’m sleeping.

Note: A still stronger variant is 24/7/365.

Year In, Year Out

Meaning: Annually without change
Example: Our holiday party is such a bore. Year in, year out the owner makes the same dumb jokes.

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Useful Idioms about Time in English

Idioms about Time

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