80 Idioms with the Word Time

80 Idioms with the Word Time 80 Idioms with the Word Time 80 Idioms with the Word Time By Mark Nichol Considering that time is such a critical element in our lives, it’s no surprise that the word time should crop up so often in English idiomatic usage. Here’s a list of phrases that refer directly to time. 1. a devil of a time: said of an ordeal 2. a legend in one’s own time: one who gains renown within his or her lifetime (also inspired â€Å"a legend in (one’s) own mind,† referring to an egotistical person who believes himself or herself to be more significant than he or she actually is) 3–4. a matter/question of time: said in reference to a state that will soon change 5. a rare old time: an enjoyable experience 6. a race against time: said of trying to accomplish something critical in a short time frame 7. a stitch in time: the first half of a proverb (ending with â€Å"saves nine† and with an obscure origin) that refers to the wisdom of taking precaution 8. a whale of a (good) time: an especially exciting or fun experience 9. ahead of time: before the agreed time 10. ahead of (one’s) time: said of someone or something that has an innovative approach or style or one that the world is not ready for 11. all in good time: an expression that encourages patience 12. all the time in the world: an unlimited amount of time 13. all the time: in addition to referring to habitual or continuous occurrence, can refer to knowing about something throughout a given period 14. at a set time: at the agreed time 15. at all times: always 16. at no time: never 17. at the appointed time: at the agreed time 18. bad time: an inconvenient moment or an unfortunate experience 19. before (one’s) time: said of something that existed or occurred before one was born or when one was too young to recall that thing, or said in reference to someone’s unexpectedly early death 20–21. behind its time/the times: late, not keeping up, or obsolete 22. bide (one’s) time: be patient 23. big-time operator: someone who is or thinks he or she is important or influential 24. big-time spender: one who spends a lot of money, or said ironically about a frugal person 25. borrowed time: an uncertain amount of time, at the end of which something will no longer exist or occur 26. buy time: postpone an event for one’s advantage 27. by the time: said in reference to a time after something else has occurred 28. caught in a time warp: unchanged in an antiquated or obsolete way 29. crunch time: a critical period 30. face time: time spent in someone else’s company 31. for the time being: for now 32. from time to time: occasionally 33. do (the) time: serve time in jail or prison 34. down time: rest period 35. get the time: become available 36. give (one) a hard time: be critical 37. good-time Charlie: one who seeks pleasure 38. good times: pleasant experiences 39. hardly have time to breathe: said when one is busy 40. have a time of it: experience difficulty 41. having quite a time: having a pleasurable experience, or having difficulty 42. have time on (one’s side): don’t have to hurry 43. I’ll catch you some other time: I’ll talk to you later when it’s more convenient for you 44. in next to no time: almost instantly 45. in the fullness of time: after enough time passes 46. in the right place at the right time: in a figurative sense, fortuitously prepared for some eventuality; also, literally, located in a position that is advantageous or fortunate 47. it’s about time: said to express impatience, or relief that something has finally occurred (usually accompanied by an exclamation point) 48. it’s high time: it is the appropriate time; one has waited long enough 49. keep time: maintain the beat in music 50. lose no time: do something immediately 51. make good time: proceed quickly or in a reasonable amount of time 52. make time for: set aside a period of time to accommodate someone or something 53. make up for lost time: catch up on time wasted or as a result of going slowly or not going at all 54. mark time: wait 55. not able to call (one’s) time (one’s) own: too busy 56. old-time: old-fashioned 57. on time: punctual 58. once upon a time: long ago 59. out of time: said in reference to no longer having time to do something 60. pass the time (of day) with: chat with 61. pressed for time: lacking enough time to do something 62. run that by me one more time: say that again 63. sands of time: a poetic reference to the passage of time as represented by sand in an hourglass 64. the big time: said in reference to achieving prominence in some endeavor 65. the time has come: the occasion is appropriate 66. the time of (one’s) life: a memorable experience 67. time and tide wait for no man: the world makes no allowance for one being late 68. time bomb: something that will inevitably result in a negative consequence 69. time flies: a reference to the fleeting nature of time 70. time is money: time is important because using it wisely or unwisely affects one’s ability to earn money 71. time on (one’s) hands: spare time 72. time out: in sports, a short period when play ceases; by extension, a break from activity (also used as the announcement of a request for a time out, as is time by itself) 73. (stuck in a) time warp: said in reference to observing something that or someone who appears outdated 74. time was: there was a time when 75. time’s a-wastin’: time is running out 76. time to hit the road: time to depart 77. time works wonders: the passage of time resolves problems 78. when the time is ripe: when the time is appropriate 79. withstand the test of time: endure 80. wouldn’t give (one) the time of day to: ignored Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Expressions category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:36 Adjectives Describing LightTaser or Tazer? Tazing or Tasering?Preposition Review #1: Chance of vs. Chance for