Idioms

(and) about time (too) | (and) not before time

1. used to say that something should have happened before now

against time

1. if you do something against time, you do it as fast as you can because you do not have much time
   • They're working against time to try and get people out of the rubble alive.

ahead of/behind time

1. earlier/later than was expected
   • We finished 15 minutes ahead of time.
   • The plane took off an hour behind time.

ahead of your time

1. having advanced or new ideas that other people use or copy later

all the time | the whole time

1.  
   during the whole of a particular period of time
   • The letter was in my pocket all the time (= while I was looking for it).
   Topics Timea2
2.  
   very often; repeatedly
   • She leaves the lights on all the time.
   Topics Timea2

at all times

1. always
   • Our representatives are ready to help you at all times.
   • Hot water is available at all times.

at the best of times

1. even when the circumstances are very good
   • He's never very happy at the best of times—he'll be much worse now!

at the same time

1. at one time; together
   • She was laughing and crying at the same time.
2. used to introduce a fact that is different and must be considered
   • You have to be firm, but at the same time you should try and be sympathetic.

at a time

1. separately or in groups of two, three, etc. on each occasion
   • We had to go and see the principal one at a time.
   • She ran up the stairs two at a time.
   • He surfs the internet for hours at a time.

at my, your, his, etc. time of life

1. at the age you are (especially when you are not young)
   • Eyesight doesn't get any better at my time of life.

at times

 

1. sometimes
   • He can be really bad-tempered at times.
   • The rain will become heavy at times in the afternoon.
   • He can be rather moody at times.

beat time (to something)

1. to mark or follow the rhythm of music, by waving a stick, tapping your foot (= hitting it against the floor), etc.
   • She beat time with her fingers.

before my, your, his, etc. time

1. happening before you were born or can remember or before you lived, worked, etc. somewhere
   • ‘Were you taught by Professor Pascal?’ ‘No, he was before my time.’
2. before the usual time in somebody’s life when something happens synonym prematurely
   • She got old before her time.

behind the times

1. old-fashioned in your ideas, methods, etc.

be in the right place at the right time

1. to be able to take advantage of opportunities when they come
   • His success was down to being in the right place at the right time.

be (living) on borrowed time

1. to still be alive after the time when you were expected to die
   • He’s been living on borrowed time ever since his last heart attack.
2. to be doing something that other people are likely to soon stop you from doing
   • According to the latest opinion polls, the government is living on borrowed time.

better luck next time

1. (informal) used to encourage somebody who has not been successful at something
   • Never mind— better luck next time.
   • If you didn't win a prize, better luck next time.
   Topics Successc1

bide your time

1. to wait for the right time to do something
   • He decided to bide his time until he got an opportunity to talk to her alone.

buy time

1. to do something in order to delay an event, a decision, etc.
   • The negotiators kept the gunman talking to buy time for the hostages.

call time (on something)

1. (British English) to say or decide that it is time for something to finish

a devil of a job/time

1. (old-fashioned) a very difficult or unpleasant job or time
   • I've had a devil of a job finding you.

do time

1. (informal) to spend time in prisonTopics Crime and punishmentc2

every time

1. whenever there is a choice
   • I don't really like cities—give me the countryside every time.

for old times’ sake

1. if you do something for old times’ sake, you do it because it is connected with something good that happened to you in the past

for the time being

1. for a short period of time but not permanently
   • You can leave your suitcase here for the time being.
   Topics Timec1

from that time/day forth

1. (literary) beginning on that day; from that time
   • From that time forth she gave me endless friendship and encouragement.
   Topics Timec2

from time to time

1. occasionally but not regularly
   • She has to work at weekends from time to time.
   Topics Timec1

gain time

1. to delay something so that you can have more time to make a decision, deal with a problem, etc.

give somebody a hard time

1. to deliberately make a situation difficult and unpleasant for somebody
   • They really gave me a hard time at the interview.

give me something/somebody (any day/time)

1. (informal) used to say that you prefer a particular thing or person to the one that has just been mentioned
   • We don't go out much. Give me a quiet night in front of the TV any day!
   Topics Preferences and decisionsc2

have an easy time (of it)

1. to have no difficulties or problems
   • He’s had an easy time of it since he married Lucy.

have a high old time

1. (old-fashioned, informal) to enjoy yourself very much

have a lot of time for somebody/something

1. (informal, especially British English) to like and be interested in somebody/something
   • I've always had a lot of time for Mary.
   Topics Preferences and decisionsc2

have no time for somebody/something | not have much time for somebody/something

1. (informal) to dislike somebody/something
   • I have no time for lazy people like Steve.
   Topics Preferences and decisionsc2

have a thin time (of it)

1. (British English, informal) to have many problems or difficulties to deal with; to not be successful
   • He’s had a thin time of it since losing his job.
   Topics Difficulty and failurec2

have the time of your life

1. (informal) to enjoy yourself very much

have time on your hands | have time to kill

1. (informal) to have nothing to do or not be busy

have a whale of a time

1. (informal) to enjoy yourself very much; to have a very good time
   • The kids had a whale of a time at the theme park.

in the course of time

1. when enough time has passed synonym eventually
   • It is possible that in the course of time a cure for cancer will be found.
   • In the course of time, I began to understand.

in the fullness of time

1. when the time is appropriate, usually after a long period
   • I have no doubt that she’ll tell us in the fullness of time.

in good time

1. early; with enough time so that you are not in a hurry
   • Get to the airport in good time.
   Topics Timec1

(all) in good time

1. (informal) used to say that something will be done or will happen at the appropriate time and not before
   • Be patient, Emily! All in good time.

in the nick of time

1. (informal) at the very last moment; just before something bad happens, so that you manage to avoid it, but only just
   • They escaped from the smoke-filled house just in the nick of time.

in (less than/next to) no time

1. so soon or so quickly that it is surprising
   • The kids will be leaving home in no time.

in olden times

(also in the olden days)

1. a long time ago in the past
   • In olden times people would gather in town squares to gossip and exchange stories.

in your own sweet time/way

1. how and when you want to, even though this might annoy other people
   • He always does the work, but in his own sweet time.
   • She just ignores all the criticism and continues on her own sweet way.

in your own (good) time

1. (informal) when you are ready and not sooner
   • Don't hassle him! He'll do it in his own good time.

in your own time

1. in your free time and not when you usually work or study

in time

1. after a period of time when a situation has changed synonym eventually
   • They learned to accept their stepmother in time.
   • You'll get used to the work in time.
   Topics Timec2

in time (for something/to do something)

 

1. not late; with enough time to be able to do something
   • Will we be in time for the six o'clock train?
   • The ambulance got there just in time (= to save somebody's life).
   Topics Timeb1

it’s about/high time

1. (informal) used to say that you think somebody should do something soon
   • It's about time you cleaned your room!

it’s just/only a matter of time (before…)

1. used to say that something will definitely happen, although you are not sure when
   • It's only a matter of time before they bring out their own version of the software.
   Topics Doubt, guessing and certaintyc1

keep up/move with the times

1. to change and develop your ideas, way of working, etc. so that you do what is modern and what is expected
   • Many complained that the Royal Family had failed to move with the times.

kill time | kill an hour, a couple of hours, etc.

1. to spend time doing something that is not important while you are waiting for something else to happen
   • We killed time playing cards.

long time no see

1. (informal) used to say hello to somebody you have not seen for a long time

make good, etc. time

1. to complete a journey quickly
   • We made excellent time and arrived in Spain in two days.

make up for lost time

1. to do something quickly or very often because you wish you had started doing it sooner
   • I’ll have to work hard now to make up for lost time.

many a time | many’s the time (that)…

1. (old-fashioned) many times; frequently

mark time

1. to pass the time while you wait for something more interesting
   • I'm just marking time in this job—I'm hoping to get into journalism.
2. (of soldiers) to make marching movements without moving forwards

(the) next, first, second, etc. time round

1. on the next, first, etc. occasion that the same thing happens
   • He repeated none of the errors he'd made first time round.
   • This time round it was not so easy.

nine times out of ten | ninety-nine times out of a hundred

1. used to say that something is usually true or almost always happens
   • Nine times out of ten she gives the right answer.

ninety-nine times out of a hundred

1. almost always

(and) not before time | (and) about time (too)

1. used to say that something should have happened before now

not give somebody the time of day

1. to refuse to speak to somebody because you do not like or respect them
   • Since the success of her novel, people shake her hand who once wouldn't have given her the time of day.

(there is) no time like the present

1. (saying) now is the best time to do something, not in the future

of all time

1. that has ever existed
   • Many rated him the best singer of all time.
   see also all-time

once upon a time

1. used, especially at the beginning of stories, to mean ‘a long time ago in the past’
   • Once upon a time there was a beautiful princess.

on time

1. at the arranged or correct time; not late
   • The train arrived right on time.
   Topics Timea2

pass the time of day (with somebody)

1. to say hello to somebody and have a short conversation with them

play for time

1. to find or create reasons why something has to be delayed, often so you have longer to prepare for it
   • His legal team, clearly playing for time, sought to have the case heard a month later.

a race against time/the clock

1. a situation in which you have to do something or finish something very fast before it is too late
   • Getting food to the starving refugees is now a race against time.

a sign of the times

1. something that you feel shows what things are like now, especially how bad they are
   • The increasing number of people owning guns is an alarming sign of the times.

a stitch in time (saves nine)

1. (saying) it is better to deal with something immediately because if you wait it may become worse or more difficult and cause extra work

take it/things one day at a time

1. (informal) to not think about what will happen in the future
   • I don't know if he'll get better. We're just taking it one day at a time.

take your time (over something) | take your time to do something/doing something

1. to use as much time as you need without hurrying
   • There's no rush—take your time.
2. used to say you think somebody is late or is too slow in doing something
   • You certainly took your time getting here!

take time out

1. to spend some time away from your usual work or activity in order to rest or do something else instead
   • She is taking time out from her music career for a year.
   Synonyms restrest

   • break
   • respite
   • time out
   • breathing space

   These are all words for a short period of time spent relaxing.

   • rest a period of relaxing, sleeping or doing nothing after a period of activity:
     • We stopped for a well-earned rest.
   • break a short period of time when you stop what you are doing and rest or eat:
     • Let’s take a break.
     In British English break is a period of time between lessons at school. The North American English word is recess.
   • respite a short break from something difficult or unpleasant:
     • The drug brought a brief respite from the pain.
   • time out (especially North American English, informal) time for resting or relaxing away from your usual work or studies:
     • Take time out to relax by the pool.
   • breathing space a short rest in the middle of a period of mental or physical effort:
     • This delay gives the party a breathing space in which to sort out its policies.

   Patterns

   • (a) rest/​break/​respite/​time out from something
   • to have/​take (a) rest/​break/​time out
   • to give somebody (a) rest/​break/​respite/​breathing space

there’s a first time for everything

1. (saying, humorous) the fact that something has not happened before does not mean that it will never happen

third time lucky

(US English third time is the charm)

1. used when you have failed to do something twice and hope that you will succeed the third timeTopics Successc2

time after time | time and (time) again

1. often; on many or all occasions
   • You will get a perfect result time after time if you follow these instructions.
   • Time and again, the girls have shown how strong and determined they can be.
   Topics Timeb2

time and a half

1. one and a half times the usual rate of pay
   • We get time and a half on Sundays.
   see also double time

time flies

1. (saying) time seems to pass very quickly
   • How time flies! I've got to go now.
   • Time has flown since the holiday began.

time is money

1. (saying) time is valuable, and should not be wasted

time is on your side

1. used to say that somebody can wait for something to happen or can wait before doing something

time was (when)…

1. (old-fashioned) used to say that something used to happen in the past
   • Time was when you could go for a walk in the country and not see another person for miles.
   • Time was when we never needed to lock our house at night.

time (alone) will tell | only time will tell

1. (saying) used to say that you will have to wait for some time to find out the result of a situation
   • Only time will tell if the treatment has been successful.

the whole time | all the time

1. during the whole of a particular period of time
   • My keys were in my pocket the whole time (= while I was looking for them).
2. very often; repeatedly
   • He drums his fingers on the table the whole time—it's very annoying.