50 Idioms for Time That’ll Change How You Think About Every Moment
Time flies, doesn’t it? But what if I told you there are 50 idioms for time that can help you express every tick of the clock in a creative and meaningful way? Whether you’re rushing against the clock or reminiscing about the good old days, these phrases will transform how you talk about life’s most precious resource.
You’re about to discover expressions that’ll make you sound sharper, more expressive, and even a bit poetic. Ready to unlock a treasure chest of timeless sayings? Let’s dive in and see how these 50 idioms for time can reshape your conversations!
1. Time Flies
Meaning: Time passes very quickly, especially when you are enjoying yourself.
In a Sentence: Time flies when you’re on vacation and having fun!
Other Ways to Say: Time races; Time zooms by; Time moves fast.
2. Beat the Clock
Meaning: To accomplish something before a deadline.
In a Sentence: We managed to beat the clock and submit the project just in time.
Other Ways to Say: Finish in time; Complete before the deadline; Stay ahead of the clock.
3. Bide Your Time
Meaning: To wait patiently for the right moment to act.
In a Sentence: She decided to bide her time until the perfect job opportunity came along.
Other Ways to Say: Wait it out; Hold off; Be patient.
4. Borrowed Time
Meaning: Living or operating under an imminent threat of failure or end.
In a Sentence: The old computer is on borrowed time; it could crash any day now.
Other Ways to Say: On thin ice; On its last legs; Hanging by a thread.
5. A Stitch in Time Saves Nine
Meaning: Taking quick action now can prevent bigger problems later.
In a Sentence: Fixing that small leak right away is a classic case of a stitch in time saves nine.
Other Ways to Say: Nip it in the bud; Preventative measures; Deal with it early.
6. Around the Clock
Meaning: Continuously, all day and night without stopping.
In a Sentence: The team worked around the clock to meet the launch date.
Other Ways to Say: Nonstop; 24/7; Day and night.
7. Call It a Day
Meaning: To decide to stop working on something for the rest of the day.
In a Sentence: After finishing the presentation, we decided to call it a day.
Other Ways to Say: Wrap it up; Clock out; End for today.
8. Against the Clock
Meaning: Working under a strict time constraint.
In a Sentence: The team is racing against the clock to meet the submission deadline.
Other Ways to Say: Under pressure; In a time crunch; Racing time.
9. Time Will Tell
Meaning: The outcome or truth of something will only be revealed with time.
In a Sentence: Only time will tell if their business idea will succeed.
Other Ways to Say: Wait and see; Future will reveal; Let time unfold.
10. Kill Time
Meaning: To do something unimportant while waiting for something else.
In a Sentence: I played a mobile game to kill time while waiting for the train.
Other Ways to Say: Pass time; Fill the gap; Waste time.
11. In the Nick of Time
Meaning: At the last possible moment before it’s too late.
In a Sentence: She caught the bus in the nick of time before it pulled away.
Other Ways to Say: Just in time; At the eleventh hour; At the last second.
12. Time After Time
Meaning: Repeatedly or consistently over a period.
In a Sentence: Time after time, she’s proven her dedication to the team.
Other Ways to Say: Over and over; Again and again; Repeatedly.
13. Living on Borrowed Time
Meaning: Surviving longer than expected, often in risky circumstances.
In a Sentence: The old car is living on borrowed time after so many repairs.
Other Ways to Say: Near the end; On its last legs; Hanging by a thread.
14. Third Time’s the Charm
Meaning: The belief that the third attempt at something will be successful.
In a Sentence: After two failed tries, I’m hoping the third time’s the charm.
Other Ways to Say: Try again; Persistence pays off; Luck on the third attempt.
15. Better Late Than Never
Meaning: It’s better to do something late than not at all.
In a Sentence: He finally apologized, and I thought, better late than never!
Other Ways to Say: At least it’s done; Delayed but done; It’s never too late.
16. Make Up for Lost Time
Meaning: To work extra hard or spend more time to compensate for a delay.
In a Sentence: After being away, he spent the weekend making up for lost time with his kids.
Other Ways to Say: Catch up; Regain lost time; Recover time.
17. Pressed for Time
Meaning: Having very little time to complete something.
In a Sentence: I was so pressed for time that I skipped breakfast.
Other Ways to Say: In a hurry; Short on time; Rushed.
18. At the Eleventh Hour
Meaning: At the very last moment before something happens.
In a Sentence: They reached an agreement at the eleventh hour, avoiding a strike.
Other Ways to Say: Last minute; Just in time; At the wire.
19. Take Your Time
Meaning: To do something at your own pace, without rushing.
In a Sentence: No need to hurry; take your time with the exam.
Other Ways to Say: Go at your own speed; No rush; Slow and steady.
20. Once in a Blue Moon
Meaning: Something that happens very rarely.
In a Sentence: She visits her hometown only once in a blue moon.
Other Ways to Say: Rarely; Infrequently; Hardly ever.
21. Ahead of Time
Meaning: To do something before the scheduled time.
In a Sentence: We arrived at the airport well ahead of time to avoid stress.
Other Ways to Say: Early; In advance; Before schedule.
22. Lose Track of Time
Meaning: To become so engrossed in an activity that you don’t realize how much time has passed.
In a Sentence: I was so focused on my book that I lost track of time.
Other Ways to Say: Forget the time; Be unaware of time; Get lost in the moment.
23. For the Time Being
Meaning: Temporarily, for now.
In a Sentence: We’ll use this room as the office for the time being.
Other Ways to Say: For now; Temporarily; As of now.
24. The Time of Your Life
Meaning: An extremely enjoyable experience.
In a Sentence: We had the time of our lives at the concert!
Other Ways to Say: A memorable moment; Best time ever; Great experience.
25. Behind the Times
Meaning: Not keeping up with modern developments or trends.
In a Sentence: His ideas about technology are a bit behind the times.
Other Ways to Say: Old-fashioned; Outdated; Stuck in the past.
26. All in Good Time
Meaning: Something will happen when the time is right.
In a Sentence: Don’t rush; everything will happen all in good time.
Other Ways to Say: Patience is key; In due course; Wait for the right moment.
27. In the Long Run
Meaning: Over an extended period, in the end.
In a Sentence: Studying hard now will pay off in the long run.
Other Ways to Say: Eventually; Over time; In the end.
28. Just a Matter of Time
Meaning: Something is inevitable and will happen sooner or later.
In a Sentence: It’s just a matter of time before she gets that promotion.
Other Ways to Say: Bound to happen; Inevitably; Sooner or later.
29. Time Stands Still
Meaning: A moment that feels as though everything else has stopped.
In a Sentence: When they saw each other again, it was as if time stood still.
Other Ways to Say: Frozen in time; A timeless moment; Everything paused.
30. Save Time
Meaning: To use time more efficiently.
In a Sentence: Taking a direct flight saved us a lot of time.
Other Ways to Say: Be efficient; Cut down on time; Use time wisely.
31. Time Is a Thief
Meaning: Time takes away moments, opportunities, or youth without us realizing it.
In a Sentence: It feels like time is a thief that stole my carefree childhood.
Other Ways to Say: Time sneaks away; Time erodes; Time takes its toll.
32. Time Waits for No One
Meaning: Time moves forward regardless of what anyone does.
In a Sentence: You should seize the opportunity now because time waits for no one.
Other Ways to Say: Time marches on; No stopping time; Time keeps ticking.
33. Caught in a Time Warp
Meaning: Stuck in a period from the past, as if nothing has changed.
In a Sentence: Their outdated fashion sense made it seem like they were caught in a time warp.
Other Ways to Say: Stuck in the past; Frozen in time; Out of sync with today.
34. The Sands of Time
Meaning: Refers to the passage of time, often symbolized by an hourglass.
In a Sentence: The sands of time are running out for the endangered species.
Other Ways to Say: Passing moments; Time ticking away; Fleeting time.
35. Marking Time
Meaning: To wait or do nothing while time passes.
In a Sentence: They were just marking time until their flight was called.
Other Ways to Say: Idle away; Wait around; Kill time.
36. Frozen in Time
Meaning: Something that remains unchanged despite the passage of time.
In a Sentence: The abandoned house seemed frozen in time, with everything left untouched.
Other Ways to Say: Unaltered; Suspended in time; Preserved in a moment.
37. Time Is Money
Meaning: Time is valuable, and wasting it means losing potential opportunities or income.
In a Sentence: I prefer paying for a direct flight because time is money.
Other Ways to Say: Time is precious; Don’t waste time; Value your time.
38. Living on Time Borrowed from the Future
Meaning: Spending time as if there are no consequences, often used to describe procrastination or indulgence.
In a Sentence: Partying all night while ignoring deadlines is living on time borrowed from the future.
Other Ways to Say: Procrastinating; Wasting time; Ignoring responsibilities.
39. Time Is a Healer
Meaning: Over time, emotional pain and wounds will lessen.
In a Sentence: After her breakup, she kept reminding herself that time is a healer.
Other Ways to Say: Time heals wounds; Time mends all; Time cures.
40. In Time’s Grasp
Meaning: Being controlled or dominated by time and its inevitability.
In a Sentence: No matter how we try to escape, we’re all in time’s grasp.
Other Ways to Say: Time’s prisoner; In the clutch of time; Time-bound.
41. The Clock Is Ticking
Meaning: There is a limited amount of time left to do something.
In a Sentence: The clock is ticking, so you’d better make a decision soon.
Other Ways to Say: Time is running out; Hurry up; The countdown has begun.
42. Lost in Time
Meaning: Completely unaware of the passage of time due to focus or distraction.
In a Sentence: While painting, she got lost in time and didn’t notice it was already dark.
Other Ways to Say: Zoned out; Engrossed; Consumed by time.
43. Time Slips Through Your Fingers
Meaning: Time feels impossible to hold onto, as it passes so quickly.
In a Sentence: Summer vacation always slips through your fingers before you know it.
Other Ways to Say: Time escapes; Time runs away; Fleeting moments.
44. Out of Sync with Time
Meaning: Not aligned with the pace or expectations of current events.
In a Sentence: His slow pace made him feel out of sync with time during the busy meeting.
Other Ways to Say: Behind schedule; Misaligned; Out of rhythm.
45. Time Wears All Things Away
Meaning: Over time, everything changes, ages, or deteriorates.
In a Sentence: The old stone walls, once strong, now crumble as time wears all things away.
Other Ways to Say: Time erodes; Time ages everything; Time leaves its mark.
46. A Slave to Time
Meaning: Someone who is always controlled by schedules or deadlines.
In a Sentence: With back-to-back meetings, he felt like a slave to time.
Other Ways to Say: Bound by time; Controlled by the clock; Chained to a schedule.
47. Time Carries All Before It
Meaning: Time moves everything forward, leaving nothing untouched.
In a Sentence: Despite our best efforts, time carries all before it, reshaping everything.
Other Ways to Say: Time transforms; Time changes everything; Time pushes onward.
48. Time Out of Mind
Meaning: A long time ago, beyond memory or record.
In a Sentence: That custom has existed since time out of mind.
Other Ways to Say: Ages ago; Ancient times; Forever ago.
49. Stealing Time
Meaning: Taking small moments for oneself amidst a busy schedule.
In a Sentence: She loved stealing time to read a chapter of her favorite book during lunch breaks.
Other Ways to Say: Finding spare moments; Carving out time; Snatching moments.
50. Racing Against Time
Meaning: Trying to do something before a deadline or before time runs out.
In a Sentence: The crew was racing against time to complete the repairs before the storm hit.
Other Ways to Say: Beating the clock; Fighting the clock; Time crunch.
MCQs Quiz: 50 Idioms For Time
1. Which idiom suggests that time erases all emotional pain?
a) Time Is a Thief
b) Time Is a Healer
c) 50 Idioms for time
d) Time Slips Through Your Fingers
2. What does “Caught in a Time Warp” mean?
a) Being stuck in traffic for a long time.
b) Feeling like you are frozen in a moment from the past.
c) Moving quickly through time.
d) Losing track of time while working.
3. “The Sands of Time” metaphorically represents:
a) A countdown to an important event.
b) The steady passage of time, often symbolized by an hourglass.
c) A long-lasting memory.
d) A pause in time.
4. What does the idiom “Marking Time” imply?
a) Moving forward rapidly.
b) Waiting or doing nothing while time passes.
c) Keeping track of specific events.
d) Living in the past.
5. Which idiom refers to being dominated by schedules or deadlines?
a) Racing Against Time
b) A Slave to Time
c) 50 idioms for Time to Time Waits for No One
d) Time Slips Through Your Fingers
6. “Time Slips Through Your Fingers” suggests:
a) You can easily control time.
b) Time is like a tangible object.
c) Time passes quickly and is difficult to hold onto.
d) Time is endless of 50 idioms for time
7. What does “Living on Time Borrowed from the Future” mean?
a) Using time effectively to plan ahead.
b) Spending time irresponsibly, ignoring future consequences.
c) Being ahead of your deadlines.
d) Investing time wisely.
8. What does “Frozen in Time” describe?
a) Something that changes rapidly.
b) Something that remains unchanged despite the passage of time.
c) Being late for an event.
d) Keeping a specific moment alive in memory.
9. Which idiom signifies urgency due to limited time?
a) The Clock Is Ticking
b) Time Carries All Before It
c) Out of Sync with Time
d) Time Is a Healer of 50 idioms for time
10. “Racing Against Time” means:
a) Running out of patience.
b) Trying to accomplish something before a deadline.
c) Waiting for the right moment.
d) Relaxing as time passes.
Quiz Answers:
- b) Time Is a Healer
- b) Feeling like you are frozen in a moment from the past.
- b) The steady passage of time, often symbolized by an hourglass.
- b) Waiting or doing nothing while time passes.
- b) A Slave to Time
- c) Time passes quickly and is difficult to hold onto.
- b) Spending time irresponsibly, ignoring future consequences.
- b) Something that remains unchanged despite the passage of time.
- a) The Clock Is Ticking
- b) Trying to accomplish something before a deadline.
Conclusion
Idioms about time provide vivid metaphors that capture the fleeting, valuable, and often uncontrollable nature of time. From “Time Is a Thief” to “Racing Against Time,” these expressions reflect how deeply time influences our lives, emotions, and actions.
Understanding and using these 50 idioms for time not only enhances language skills but also allows for more colorful and relatable communication. So, the next time you feel the pressure of a ticking clock or notice how quickly moments pass, remember these idioms and let them add charm to your words!
