Time never stands still. One moment we’re in school, and the next, it’s time for dinner. People often use special phrases to talk about how fast or slow time moves. These phrases are called idioms. They help describe feelings or moments in fun and clever ways.
In this lesson, we will learn idioms that talk about time passing. These expressions don’t say exactly what they mean. Instead, they use words in creative ways to help explain how we feel about time. You’ll see how these idioms are used and try a short quiz to check what you’ve learned. Let’s take a look at how people talk about time without using a clock.
Idioms about Time Passing
1. Time flies
Meaning: Time goes by quickly.
Within a Sentence: Time flies when we play outside. / Our vacation went so fast, time really flies.
In Other Words: Time moves fast. / Things are over before you know it.
2. Beat the clock
Meaning: Finish something before the deadline.
Within a Sentence: I beat the clock and turned in my homework early. / We finished cleaning before Mom got home we beat the clock!
In Other Words: Finished just in time. / Got it done fast.
3. In the nick of time
Meaning: Just before it’s too late.
Within a Sentence: I got to the bus stop in the nick of time. / He caught the ball in the nick of time.
In Other Words: Barely made it. / Just on time.
4. Around the clock
Meaning: All day and night without stopping.
Within a Sentence: The store is open around the clock. / The nurses work around the clock.
In Other Words: 24 hours a day. / All the time.
5. Make time
Meaning: Find time for something.
Within a Sentence: Dad makes time to read to me every night. / I make time to play with my dog.
In Other Words: Set aside time. / Do something on purpose.
6. Kill time
Meaning: Do something to pass the time.
Within a Sentence: We played a card game to kill time before dinner. / I drew pictures while waiting to kill time.
In Other Words: Waste time. / Keep busy while waiting.
7. Time is money
Meaning: Time is valuable.
Within a Sentence: He works fast because time is money. / Don’t waste time time is money.
In Other Words: Time matters. / Don’t waste time.
8. On the dot
Meaning: Exactly on time.
Within a Sentence: The bell rang at 8:00 on the dot. / He arrived at noon on the dot.
In Other Words: Right on time. / Not early or late.
9. Call it a day
Meaning: Stop working for the day.
Within a Sentence: After cleaning my room, I called it a day. / Let’s call it a day and rest.
In Other Words: Stop for now. / Done for the day.
10. In no time
Meaning: Very quickly.
Within a Sentence: We finished our chores in no time. / Dinner was ready in no time.
In Other Words: Super fast. / Didn’t take long.
11. Save time
Meaning: Use time wisely or quickly.
Within a Sentence: I save time by packing my bag the night before. / Using the microwave saves time.
In Other Words: Do things faster. / Use less time.
12. Time’s up
Meaning: Time is finished.
Within a Sentence: Time’s up for the quiz. / Time’s up pencils down!
In Other Words: Stop now. / No more time left.
13. Ahead of time
Meaning: Earlier than expected.
Within a Sentence: I finished my project ahead of time. / We arrived ahead of time for the party.
In Other Words: Early. / Before the deadline.
14. Behind the times
Meaning: Old-fashioned or not modern.
Within a Sentence: That phone is behind the times. / Grandpa’s clothes are behind the times.
In Other Words: Out of style. / Not up to date.
15. Out of time
Meaning: No time left.
Within a Sentence: I was out of time and couldn’t finish. / We ran out of time to bake cookies.
In Other Words: No more time. / Time ran out.
16. Time will tell
Meaning: We’ll know in the future.
Within a Sentence: Time will tell if the new game is fun. / Time will tell if it was a good idea.
In Other Words: Wait and see. / We’ll find out later.
17. A race against time
Meaning: Rushing to do something before a deadline.
Within a Sentence: It was a race against time to finish the puzzle. / We ran a race against time before bedtime.
In Other Words: Hurrying fast. / Trying to finish quickly.
18. Bide your time
Meaning: Wait patiently.
Within a Sentence: I bided my time until it was my turn. / She bides her time before speaking.
In Other Words: Wait quietly. / Be patient.
19. Crunch time
Meaning: A short period with lots to do.
Within a Sentence: It’s crunch time before the big test. / Crunch time means we have to focus.
In Other Words: Busy time. / Hurry up.
20. In the long run
Meaning: Over time or in the future.
Within a Sentence: In the long run, eating healthy helps. / In the long run, hard work pays off.
In Other Words: Later. / After a while.
21. Once in a blue moon
Meaning: Happens very rarely.
Within a Sentence: We go to the beach once in a blue moon. / She visits once in a blue moon.
In Other Words: Not often. / Almost never.
22. At the eleventh hour
Meaning: At the last minute.
Within a Sentence: He finished the project at the eleventh hour. / She packed her bag at the eleventh hour.
In Other Words: Just before it was too late. / Very last minute.
23. All in good time
Meaning: It will happen when it’s meant to.
Within a Sentence: You’ll learn to ride a bike all in good time. / All in good time, she’ll understand.
In Other Words: Be patient. / It will happen.
24. Behind schedule
Meaning: Later than planned.
Within a Sentence: We’re behind schedule on our art project. / The bus is behind schedule.
In Other Words: Running late. / Not on time.
25. Borrowed time
Meaning: Extra time before something ends.
Within a Sentence: After the storm, we felt like we were on borrowed time. / His old phone works on borrowed time.
In Other Words: Extra time. / Won’t last long.
26. Daylight robbery
Meaning: Something costs too much.
Within a Sentence: That toy is daylight robbery! / The candy price was daylight robbery.
In Other Words: Too expensive. / Not fair.
27. Do time
Meaning: Spend time in jail.
Within a Sentence: He did time for stealing. / She did time for a mistake.
In Other Words: Go to jail. / Be punished.
28. Have time on your hands
Meaning: Have extra time.
Within a Sentence: I have time on my hands, so I’ll draw. / She had time on her hands and made cookies.
In Other Words: Nothing to do. / Free time.
29. Live on borrowed time
Meaning: Something lasting longer than expected.
Within a Sentence: That old TV is living on borrowed time. / He felt like he was living on borrowed time after the storm.
In Other Words: Extra time. / Should have ended.
30. Take your time
Meaning: Don’t rush.
Within a Sentence: Take your time with the painting. / Mom said, “Take your time eating.”
In Other Words: Go slowly. / No need to hurry.
31. The time is ripe
Meaning: It’s the right moment to do something.
Within a Sentence: The time is ripe to ask for help. / The time is ripe to plant flowers.
In Other Words: It’s the right time. / Now is best.
32. Turn back the clock
Meaning: Go back to an earlier time.
Within a Sentence: I wish we could turn back the clock to summer. / Grandma talks about turning back the clock.
In Other Words: Go back in time. / Remember the past.
33. Against the clock
Meaning: Rushing to beat a deadline.
Within a Sentence: We worked against the clock to finish. / It was a race against the clock to clean up.
In Other Words: Work fast. / Hurry to finish.
34. At a moment’s notice
Meaning: Very quickly or without warning.
Within a Sentence: She can leave at a moment’s notice. / The weather can change at a moment’s notice.
In Other Words: Anytime. / Very fast.
35. A matter of time
Meaning: Something will happen soon.
Within a Sentence: It’s just a matter of time before school ends. / It’s a matter of time before the snow melts.
In Other Words: Will happen soon. / Wait for it.
36. Behind the clock
Meaning: Running late.
Within a Sentence: I was behind the clock this morning. / We were behind the clock for practice.
In Other Words: Late. / Didn’t start on time.
37. Call time on
Meaning: Stop or end something.
Within a Sentence: They called time on the game. / We called time on movie night.
In Other Words: End something. / Stop now.
38. Just in time
Meaning: Arrived right before the deadline.
Within a Sentence: I got to the bus just in time. / We got inside just in time before the rain.
In Other Words: Barely made it. / Right on time.
39. Only time will tell
Meaning: We’ll find out later.
Within a Sentence: Only time will tell if I did well. / Only time will tell if she likes the book.
In Other Words: Wait and see. / Future will show.
40. Buy time
Meaning: Delay something.
Within a Sentence: I asked a question to buy time. / He told a joke to buy time before the test.
In Other Words: Stall. / Wait a little longer.
41. Clock in
Meaning: Start work or school.
Within a Sentence: I clock in at 8 a.m. / Dad clocks in before his shift.
In Other Words: Begin. / Start the day.
42. Clock out
Meaning: Finish work or school.
Within a Sentence: I clocked out after class. / She clocked out at 5 p.m.
In Other Words: Done for the day. / Time to go.
43. Watch the clock
Meaning: Keep looking at the time.
Within a Sentence: I watched the clock during math. / He kept watching the clock before lunch.
In Other Words: Waiting for time to pass. / Eager to leave.
44. Time of your life
Meaning: A great and fun time.
Within a Sentence: We had the time of our life at the party. / She had the time of her life at the zoo.
In Other Words: Really fun. / Best moment.
45. Better late than never
Meaning: It’s okay to be late.
Within a Sentence: I was late to the movie, but better late than never. / She said better late than never about the homework.
In Other Words: At least you did it. / Not too bad.
46. Big time
Meaning: A lot or very much.
Within a Sentence: I liked that game big time. / He messed up big time.
In Other Words: A lot. / Really.
47. In due time
Meaning: When the time is right.
Within a Sentence: You’ll learn in due time. / In due time, you’ll understand.
In Other Words: Wait a little. / It’ll happen.
48. No time like the present
Meaning: Do it now.
Within a Sentence: Let’s start no time like the present. / She cleaned her room no time like the present.
In Other Words: Do it now. / Don’t wait.
49. Stuck in a time warp
Meaning: Looks or feels old.
Within a Sentence: That store is stuck in a time warp. / His clothes are stuck in a time warp.
In Other Words: Outdated. / From the past.
50. Mark time
Meaning: Wait without doing much.
Within a Sentence: We marked time before class started. / He marked time in line.
In Other Words: Waiting. / Passing time slowly.
51. Time’s a-wasting
Meaning: Hurry up, time is being lost.
Within a Sentence: Let’s go time’s a-wasting! / We have to clean time’s a-wasting.
In Other Words: Don’t waste time. / Hurry.
52. A stitch in time saves nine
Meaning: Fixing problems early helps later.
Within a Sentence: Clean now a stitch in time saves nine. / Do your homework early a stitch in time saves nine.
In Other Words: Fix it now. / Don’t wait.
53. Time drags
Meaning: Time feels very slow.
Within a Sentence: Time drags during long car rides. / Time drags in a boring class.
In Other Words: Slow. / Feels like forever.
54. Time stood still
Meaning: It felt like time stopped.
Within a Sentence: When the lights went out, time stood still. / Time stood still during the quiet moment.
In Other Words: No one moved. / Everything paused.
55. Wasted time
Meaning: Time used poorly.
Within a Sentence: I wasted time watching TV. / That argument was wasted time.
In Other Words: Didn’t use time well. / Time gone.
56. Pressed for time
Meaning: In a hurry.
Within a Sentence: I was pressed for time this morning. / We were pressed for time before school.
In Other Words: Rushed. / Not much time.
57. Good timing
Meaning: Happening at the best moment.
Within a Sentence: You called with good timing! / It stopped raining good timing!
In Other Words: Perfect moment. / Just right.
58. Bad timing
Meaning: Happening at the wrong moment.
Within a Sentence: That was bad timing for a joke. / He had bad timing asking that question.
In Other Words: Wrong moment. / Not a good time.
59. On borrowed time
Meaning: Something is close to ending.
Within a Sentence: The old computer is on borrowed time. / Our ice cream is on borrowed time in the sun.
In Other Words: Almost done. / Won’t last.
60. Time is up
Meaning: No more time left.
Within a Sentence: Time is up stop writing. / Time is up for games today.
In Other Words: Done. / Time’s over.
True/False Quiz: Idioms about Time Passing
- “Time flies” means time feels like it’s moving slowly.
- “Beat the clock” means to finish something after the deadline.
- “In the nick of time” means something happened just before it was too late.
- “Kill time” means to do something to help pass time.
- “On the dot” means arriving exactly on time.
- “A race against time” means you are relaxing without any rush.
- “Once in a blue moon” means something happens very often.
- “Time will tell” means we’ll find out later.
- “Crunch time” means a slow and easy part of the day.
- “Turn back the clock” means to go back to an earlier time.
- “Just in time” means missing the deadline.
- “Time of your life” means you had a really fun and happy time.
- “Better late than never” means it’s better to never do something than be late.
- “Pressed for time” means you have plenty of free time.
- “Wasted time” means the time was used well.
Answer Key
- False
- False
- True
- True
- True
- False
- False
- True
- False
- True
- False
- True
- False
- False
- False
Scoring Guide
- 15 Correct Answers: Time Idioms Master!
- 10–14 Correct Answers: You really get time idioms, nice work!
- 6–9 Correct Answers: You’re learning, keep going!
- 0–5 Correct Answers: Let’s learn about time idioms together!
Conclusion
Time passes for everyone, and people use special phrases to talk about it. These are called idioms. They help explain how we feel when time goes fast, slow, or runs out.
Now you know how to use idioms like “time flies,” “just in time,” and “beat the clock.” You can use them in your writing or when talking to others. These idioms make your ideas clearer and more fun. Keep practicing, and you’ll remember them easily.
