Time Idioms and Expressions: 70+ Phrases About Time

Time is one of the most abstract concepts in human experience, yet English has developed an extraordinarily rich vocabulary of idioms and expressions to talk about it. We treat time as a physical substance that can be spent, saved, wasted, killed, and borrowed. We describe it as something that flies, crawls, stands still, and runs out. These metaphors reveal fundamental truths about how English speakers conceptualize time—primarily as a precious, limited resource. This guide explores more than 70 time-related expressions, from ancient proverbs to modern colloquialisms.

Time in the English Language

The word "time" itself comes from Old English tīma, from the Proto-Germanic *tīmô, meaning a period, season, or limited stretch of existence. Related words like "tide" (which once meant "time" as well as the movement of the sea) show how deeply embedded temporal concepts are in the oldest layers of English.

Linguist George Lakoff has shown that English speakers predominantly understand time through two metaphors: time as a moving object that comes toward us ("the time will come"), and time as a landscape through which we move ("we're approaching the deadline"). Both of these conceptual frameworks generate dozens of everyday expressions.

The Passing of Time

• "Time flies" — Time passes quickly, especially when you are enjoying yourself. From the Latin tempus fugit.
• "Time drags" — Time passes slowly, usually during boring or unpleasant experiences.
• "The sands of time" — The passing of time, from the image of sand in an hourglass.
• "Before you know it" — Sooner than expected.
• "In the blink of an eye" — Extremely quickly.
• "In no time" — Very quickly; almost instantly.
• "Time stood still" — A dramatic moment when time seems to stop.
• "Time heals all wounds" — Emotional pain diminishes over time.
• "As time goes by" — As the days, weeks, or years pass.
• "Time marches on" — Time continues regardless of events or feelings.

Urgency and Deadlines

• "In the nick of time" — Just barely in time. A "nick" was a notch used for keeping score or time.
• "Down to the wire" — At the very last moment, from horse racing where a wire marks the finish line.
• "Against the clock" — Working with a time limit pressing.
• "Beat the clock" — Finish before the deadline.
• "Crunch time" — The critical period when maximum effort is needed.
• "Race against time" — Trying to finish before a deadline.
• "Time is of the essence" — It is critically important to act quickly.
• "Time's up" — The allotted time has expired.
• "Eleventh hour" — The last possible moment, from the biblical parable of workers hired at the eleventh hour.
• "On borrowed time" — Living beyond the expected point, especially after a serious illness or danger.
• "The clock is ticking" — Time is running out; urgency is increasing.

Wasting Time

• "Kill time" — Do something to pass time while waiting.
• "Waste time" — Use time unproductively.
• "A waste of time" — Something not worth the time invested.
• "Dilly-dally" — Waste time through indecision or aimless activity.
• "Beat around the bush" — Avoid getting to the point.
• "Drag your feet" — Delay deliberately. Also a body part idiom.
• "Twiddle your thumbs" — Do nothing while waiting.
• "Burn daylight" — Waste precious time (Shakespeare used this in Romeo and Juliet).
• "Spin your wheels" — Expend effort without making progress.

Punctuality and Timing

• "On the dot" — Exactly at the specified time.
• "Better late than never" — It's preferable to do something late than not at all.
• "Fashionably late" — Arriving slightly after the expected time as a social signal.
• "In the fullness of time" — When the right moment arrives.
• "Ahead of time" — Earlier than expected or required.
• "Behind the times" — Outdated; not keeping up with current trends.
• "Ahead of one's time" — Having ideas too advanced for the current era.
• "Right place, right time" — Being fortunately positioned when opportunity arises.
• "Timing is everything" — Success depends heavily on when you act.

The Past and Nostalgia

• "The good old days" — A nostalgic reference to a remembered past.
• "Blast from the past" — Something that suddenly reminds you of an earlier time.
• "Turn back the clock" — Return to an earlier state; reverse the effects of time.
• "That ship has sailed" — The opportunity has passed. Related to nautical language.
• "Water under the bridge" — Past events that are no longer relevant or worth worrying about.
• "Once upon a time" — In the past; the traditional opening of fairy tales.
• "A bygone era" — A period of time that is past.
• "Back in the day" — In an earlier period (informal, nostalgic).

Future and Planning

• "Only time will tell" — The outcome will become clear eventually.
• "Time is on your side" — You have enough time to wait for a favorable outcome.
• "Mark my words" — Remember what I'm saying; time will prove me right.
• "A matter of time" — Something that will inevitably happen eventually.
• "When the time is ripe" — When conditions are favorable for action.
• "Cross that bridge when you come to it" — Deal with problems when they arise, not before.
• "Tomorrow is another day" — There will be new opportunities in the future.

Time as a Resource

• "Time is money" — Time is a valuable resource (popularized by Benjamin Franklin).
• "Spend time" — Use time on an activity (treating time as currency).
• "Buy time" — Create a delay to gain more time.
• "Borrow time" — Gain extra time temporarily.
• "Save time" — Be more efficient; reduce time needed.
• "Make up for lost time" — Compensate for time wasted or missed.
• "Pressed for time" — Having very little time available.
• "Running out of time" — Having very little time remaining.
• "Time well spent" — Time used productively or enjoyably.
• "Invest time" — Dedicate time expecting future returns.

Age and Seasons of Life

• "In the prime of life" — At the peak of one's abilities and health.
• "Over the hill" — Past one's peak; getting old.
• "Long in the tooth" — Old (from horses, whose gums recede with age, making teeth appear longer).
• "Spring chicken" (usually "no spring chicken") — Not young anymore.
• "A ripe old age" — Living to be very old.
• "The twilight years" — The last years of life.
• "Turn of the century" — The transition from one century to the next.

Proverbial Wisdom About Time

• "A stitch in time saves nine" — Fixing a problem early prevents it from becoming worse. One of the oldest English proverbs about time.
• "There's no time like the present" — The best time to act is now.
• "Haste makes waste" — Rushing leads to mistakes.
• "All in good time" — Everything will happen when it should.
• "Rome wasn't built in a day" — Important achievements take time.
• "Time and tide wait for no man" — Natural forces (and opportunities) do not pause for anyone.
• "Strike while the iron is hot" — Act when conditions are favorable.
• "Patience is a virtue" — Being willing to wait is admirable.

Conclusion

Time idioms and expressions reveal how English speakers conceptualize one of the most fundamental aspects of human existence. By treating time as money to be spent, as a river that flows past us, or as a landscape through which we travel, these expressions give concrete form to an abstract experience. Whether you are racing against the clock or savoring the moment, the English language offers a rich vocabulary for expressing your relationship with time. Mastering these expressions is a valuable part of building fluency in English and understanding the culture that produced them.