Time Idioms
Agnes
British English
William
British English
Olivia
American English
James
American English
Charlotte
AUS English
Amaia
NZ English
Lethabo
SA English
Geetha
IND English
1. Be pressed for time
This idiom means to be short on time and in a hurry, usually due to a time
Listen to All
She's always pressed for time because of her busy schedule
He was pressed for time, so he had to skip lunch
The team was pressed for time to finish the project
I'm sorry I can't stay and chat - I'm pressed for time
We were pressed for time to catch the last train home
2. Time heals all wounds
This idiom means that emotional pain or trauma will gradually fade over time, allowing one to move on and heal.
Listen to All
Even though it hurts now, time heals all wounds and things will get better
It's been a year since we broke up, and I'm finally starting to feel better - time heals all wounds
Losing a loved one is painful, but time heals all wounds and memories help to keep them close
You might be upset now, but time heals all wounds and you'll move on eventually
Time heals all wounds, but it's okay to take your time and process things at your own pace
3. Time and tide wait for no man
It means that time is an unstoppable force that cannot be controlled or manipulated. It implies that time moves forward continuously, regardless of human actions or desires, and waits for no one, regardless of their status or importance.
Listen to All
You should submit your application today because time and tide wait for no man
He missed the chance to invest in that stock because he thought he had more time, but time and tide wait for no man
We must start preparing for the exam now because time and tide wait for no man
She regretted not traveling when she was younger because she realized that time and tide wait for no man
It's best to start saving for retirement early because time and tide wait for no man
4. Time after time
The idiom "time after time" means repeatedly, or happening again and again. It suggests that a particular event or situation has occurred multiple times, and is likely to continue occurring in the future.
Listen to All
Time after time, she proved to be the most reliable employee in the company
Despite failing time after time, he refused to give up on his dream of becoming a successful author
The team has won the championship time after time, demonstrating their skill and dedication
She had warned him time after time about the dangers of reckless driving, but he never listened
Time after time, the company has shown that it values profits over its employees' well-being
5. At the eleventh hour
It means at the last possible moment, or just before a deadline or critical moment. It suggests that a person has waited until the very end to take action or make a decision, often with a sense of urgency or desperation.
Listen to All
He submitted his essay at the eleventh hour, just before the deadline
The team made significant changes to the project at the eleventh hour, causing chaos and stress
She only started studying for the exam at the eleventh hour, hoping to cram in enough information to pass
They managed to secure the funding at the eleventh hour, avoiding financial disaster
The construction crew had to work around the clock to finish the building at the eleventh hour
6. Time flies
The idiom "time flies" means that time passes quickly or seems to go by rapidly. It suggests that time seems to move faster than expected or desired, and can be used to express surprise or nostalgia about how quickly time has passed.
Listen to All
I can't believe it's already been a year since we started working together. Time flies
She realized that her children were growing up too fast, and time flies
We were having so much fun that we didn't notice how quickly time flies
He was shocked to see that he had been working on the project for several hours. Time flies when you're focused
They had planned to finish the trip within a week, but time flies, and they had to extend their stay
7. Better late than never
It means that it is better to do something, even if it is late or delayed, than to not do it at all. It suggests that taking action, even if it is not immediate, is preferable to not taking any action at all.
Listen to All
He finally apologized to her for his behavior, saying better late than never
After several years of procrastination, she decided to start learning a new language, thinking that better late than never
The team managed to salvage the project by making some changes, saying better late than never
He missed the opportunity to attend the concert when it was initially announced, but he decided to attend later, thinking that better late than never
The company finally implemented safety measures after a fatal accident, saying better late than never
