Frequency, Span & Duration, Continuity and 8 More Topics · English Idioms: Time

in way that continues to happen all the time with no stop

"She worked day and night."

"The emergency services worked day and night to rescue those affected by the devastating natural disaster."

at any given hour, particularly a time that is late

"They work at all hours."

"The dedicated doctor was known to be available to her patients at all hours, day or night."

used for referring to a frequent change from something to another

"Things change from day to day."

"The political situation in the region was volatile, with alliances and public opinion shifting significantly from day to day."

nearly all the time

"Nine times out of ten, it rains."

"Nine times out of ten, the team's strategy to play defensively proves to be successful in winning games."

in a way that is not continuous or regular

"It rained off and on all day."

"It rained off and on all day so we never knew whether to take an umbrella or leave it at home."

used for saying that something can only happen on very rare occasions

"I see him once in a blue moon."

"My brother visits us once in a blue moon because he lives in Australia and works very hard."

used for referring to a very special opportunity that most likely will not be offered more than once to someone

"This is a once in a lifetime trip."

"Visiting the ancient ruins of Machu Picchu is a truly once in a lifetime experience for any history enthusiast."

in a single action, without delay or hesitation

"He ate the cake in one fell swoop."

"The company decided to restructure its entire department in one fell swoop to improve efficiency."

in a manner that is consistent

"The hospital works twenty-four seven."

"The dedicated emergency services operate twenty-four seven, ensuring help is always available when needed."

on multiple occasions

"It happened time after time."

"Time after time, she has shown incredible resilience in overcoming every challenge she has faced."

used to describe a person who always manages to arrive or get things done at the agreed or proper time

"He arrives regular as clockwork."

"She is as regular as clockwork and always finishes her work on time."

used to describe something that happens at fixed intervals or follows a consistent pattern without fail

"It is regular as clockwork."

"The train arrived at the station, as regular as clockwork, precisely at noon."

from a time that has begun a long ago

"This tradition started year one."

"The ancient practice of storytelling has been passed down through generations since the year one of human civilization."

at a point in time as a process or action continues or is being carried out

"We will see progress down the road."

"Investing in renewable energy now will lead to significant environmental benefits down the road for future generations."

a work day that is short compared to total hours of most jobs

"He enjoys bankers' hours."

"Many people dream of having bankers' hours so they can have more leisure time for personal pursuits."

in the end of or over a long period of time

"Healthy habits help in long run."

"Saving money now will benefit you over the long run when you retire."

used to describe a prolonged or indefinite period of time, often implying that something will continue for a very long duration

"We can talk till cows come home."

"You can argue until the cows come home, but I will never change my mind about this."

to last only for a short period of time

"Guests can come and go."

"The temporary exhibition allows visitors to come and go freely throughout the day, enjoying the displays at their own pace."

used to refer to a long passage of time or a significant number of months or years

"Many moons have passed."

"It feels like many moons have passed since I last saw my childhood friend who moved abroad."

at an unspecified point during a series of events or a process

"Somewhere along the line, we lost it."

"Somewhere down the line, the company lost sight of its original mission and began focusing only on profits."

a very prolonged period of time

"I waited a month of Sundays."

"She hasn't visited her hometown in a month of Sundays, so she's eager to go back."

used to say that something has existed or been done for an extremely long time, to the point where its origin or beginning is unknown or forgotten

"People have lived here since time immemorial."

"The indigenous tribes have inhabited these forests since time immemorial, long before any written records existed."

to a point where one is very tired and has no more energy to keep on

"She worked until she dropped."

"The athletes trained until they dropped, pushing their bodies to the absolute limit during the intense preparation."

through the whole life span of a person

"He worked hard from cradle to grave."

"The insurance policy covers the customer from the cradle to the grave with lifelong benefits."

a long period of time

"I've waited donkey's years."

"He has been working on that novel for donkey's years, constantly revising and refining his story."

to have been present for a long time, as in conflicts or business

"Our businesses go back."

"The two rival companies go back a long way, with a history of intense competition."

in a way that is very regular or precisely as planned

"The train arrived like clockwork."

"The morning newspaper delivery arrives at precisely 7 AM every day, functioning like clockwork without fail."

non-stop and continuing through the whole day and night

"We work around the clock."

"The nurses worked around the clock during the pandemic to care for the many patients who needed help."

something that cannot continue to work or make progress without stops or interruptions

"The project progressed in fits and starts."

"The construction work progressed in fits and starts because of bad weather and material shortages."

happening or done on a daily basis

"He works day in, day out."

"The dedicated farmer tends to his crops day in, day out, ensuring they receive the best possible care."

to have a long history or past relationship with someone or something

"We go back a long way."

"My grandmother and her best friend go back a long way, having known each other since childhood."

used to refer to a really late hour at night or early morning

"He studies until all hours every night."

"The dedicated researchers worked until all hours of the day and night to complete the groundbreaking experiment on time."

too late or close to the end of a particular period or situation to be useful or effective

"It's too late in the day."

"Trying to negotiate a better deal when the contract is already signed is often too late in the day to be effective."

a time that is too late for something

"That's a day after the fair."

"His offer to help with the moving was a day after the fair, as all the boxes were already unpacked."

at a very early time in the morning when the Sun is just rising

"I wake up at the crack of dawn."

"The farmers wake up at the crack of dawn every morning to tend to their animals and crops."

at an hour of the morning that is really early

"We left bright and early."

"The hikers set off bright and early to catch the sunrise from the mountain summit."

the time of the morning when the Sun has just started to shine..

"We arrived at first light."

"The fishermen went out to sea at first light, hoping to catch the morning tide."

at the earliest time that it is possible or suitable for someone to do something

"Please call at your earliest convenience."

"Kindly submit your application at your earliest convenience so we can begin the review process promptly."

used to indicate that something should have happened or been done earlier

"It is high time now."

"It is about time you started taking your studies seriously if you want to pass your final exams."

at the last moment that it is still possible to do something

"He arrived at the eleventh hour."

"The two countries reached a peace agreement at the eleventh hour just before the war was about to start."

used to refer to early morning hours or the hours after the midnight

"He worked the small hours."

"The dedicated nurse continued her shift through the small hours, caring for patients who needed constant attention."

something that appears or arrives too late to be of any use or benefit

"His help was late."

"The company's attempt to recall the faulty product was a day late and a dollar short, as many customers had already been affected."

right after the finalization of a deal, agreement, etc.

"He changed his mind before the ink was dry."

"The newly signed contract was broken before the ink was dry by the dishonest company."

the final moment or deadline to do something

"Do not leave everything until the last minute."

"The procrastinator always does his homework at the last minute and then complains about being stressed."

a distant moment or period in the future or past that is often marked by significant technological, cultural, or historical changes

"My dream job is light years away."

"The technology we have now would have seemed light years away to people living a hundred years ago."

at the earliest time that it is possible or suitable for someone to do something

"Please reply at earliest convenience."

"Kindly submit your application at your earliest convenience so we can review it promptly."

to repeatedly check what time it is because time seems to pass slowly and one is bored or tired

"I hate watching the clock at work."

"The bored employee spent the whole afternoon watching the clock waiting for five o'clock to arrive."

used to convey the idea that time passes quickly or seems to move swiftly

"Time flies when you are having fun!"

"The project consumed six months without warning — time flies when you are fully absorbed in meaningful work."

with no hesitation

"She'll help at the drop of a hat."

"The volunteer team was ready to assist with the disaster relief efforts at the drop of a hat."

within a very short time

"She finished her homework in a trice."

"The magician made the rabbit disappear in a trice and everyone gasped in amazement."

soon or in a quick manner

"I will be ready in two shakes."

"I will be with you in two shakes as soon as I finish sending this important email."

used to describe something, typically an action or change, that is done without any difficulty or hesitation

"This sports car can stop on a dime."

"The skilled driver could maneuver the large truck through the tight corners on a dime."

used to mean something happens or is done immediately

"He was fast right out of the gate."

"The new product was incredibly successful right out of the gate, selling millions of units in just the first week."

accomplishing or achieving something in one decisive action or with a single effort

"He solved everything at a single stroke."

"The new manager solved three problems at a single stroke by hiring a more efficient team."

used to suggest that right now is the only time a person has a chance for taking an opportunity or else they lose it forever

"It is now or never, so decide quickly."

"This is your last chance to apply for the scholarship so it is now or never."

used to mean that by passing time it will be proved if something is true, valid, or effective

"It is a new school — time will tell."

"The reform looks promising on paper, but time will tell whether it delivers meaningful results in practice."

in a manner that is sudden, unexpected, and not gradual

"He quit smoking cold turkey last week."

"My uncle quit smoking cold turkey after twenty years and he has not touched a cigarette since."

very quickly or suddenly

"It was over in the blink of an eye."

"The car accident happened in the blink of an eye and changed our lives forever."

in an instant and with no delay

"He started right away."

"She knew the answer off the bat, surprising everyone in class."

a long day that is unproductive and boring

"It was a slow day at the shop."

"It was a slow day at the shop and the owner served only three customers all morning."

used to refer to a process that occurs slowly or step by step over time, rather than happening suddenly or all at once

"By degrees, the weather improved."

"The old man lost his eyesight by degrees over several years until he was completely blind."

so suddenly or quickly that leaves one with no time to react or notice anything

"He left before I could say Jack Robinson."

"The thief grabbed the purse and ran away before I could say Jack Robinson."

in a way that is instant and has no delay

"He paid me on the spot."

"The interviewer asked me a difficult question and I had to answer it on the spot without thinking."

very near to something in terms of time

"He lived in the shadow of his famous brother."

"The small village lives in the shadow of the active volcano that could erupt at any time."

used when something is done very soon or very fast

"She finished it in no time."

"The new software was so intuitive that I learned how to use it in no time at all."

an extremely brief time duration

"Things change in a New York minute."

"Things change in a New York minute and you have to be ready to adapt quickly."

used for saying that probably something will happen or will be done in a short time

"A big storm is on the horizon."

"A major economic crisis is on the horizon according to the latest financial reports."

at a later point in time or in the future

"We can discuss that down the line."

"Ten years down the line you will regret not finishing your university education when you had the chance."

used for saying that something will happen in a very near future

"Summer is just around the corner."

"The busy holiday season is just around the corner so we need to start preparing now."

used to refer to an upcoming event that will happen within a short time

"The deadline is at hand."

"With the final exam just a week away, the pressure is definitely at hand."

used to describe something that probably happens in near future

"Change is in the wind."

"There were rumors that a major company merger was in the wind."

as the pace one prefers, even though others expect one to act faster

"He does everything in his own sweet time."

"The lazy worker does everything in his own sweet time without caring about the deadline."

used to refer to a suitable time in which a particular activity can be done

"The time is ripe for a change in strategy."

"With consumer confidence high and competitors weakened, the time was ripe to launch the new product line."

exactly on the desirable or expected time

"Right on cue, the phone rang."

"Right on cue the power went out just as the horror movie reached its scariest moment."

at a place or time that one is comfortable with

"Please call me at your convenience."

"You can return the library books at your convenience before the due date arrives."

exactly at a time that is expected or decided upon

"He arrived at nine on the dot."

"The meeting started at nine o'clock on the dot because the manager hates it when people are late."

completing or achieving something just before a deadline

"We finished just under the wire."

"We submitted our application just under the wire five minutes before the deadline closed."

to purposefully act slowly

"Stop dragging your feet and decide."

"The government is dragging its feet on passing the new environmental laws that everyone is waiting for."

refusal or cancellation of an invitation, offer, or plan with intention of accepting it or doing it at another time instead

"He took a rain check on dinner."

"He could not make the movie tonight so he asked for a rain check for next week."

to put something off in order to gain more time

"He is just trying to buy time."

"The politician gave a long speech to buy time while his team negotiated behind the scenes."

to keep postponing problems one must deal with

"They always kick the can down the road."

"Instead of addressing the budget crisis, the politicians decided to kick the can down the road once again."

used to refer to something that is temporarily inactive or postponed

"Put that plan on ice for now."

"The movie project is on ice until the director finishes his current film in six months."

to refrain from taking action when one should

"Don't just sit on your hands."

"The government was criticized for sitting on its hands while the economy continued to deteriorate rapidly."

used to show indecision over something

"I am still on the fence about this issue."

"The undecided voter is still on the fence about which candidate to support in the election."

to decide to do something that needs to taken care of right now at another time

"Do not put off until tomorrow what you can do today."

"My brother always puts off until tomorrow what he can do today and then rushes to finish everything."

to try to delay the occurrence of something so that one can prevent it from happening or have more time to properly prepare for it

"He was just playing for time during the interview."

"The witness was playing for time because he did not want to give an answer that might hurt his friend."

in a suspended state to be considered and dealt with in the future

"My call is on hold."

"I have been on hold for twenty minutes waiting to speak to a customer service representative at the bank."

used to describe a sudden departure or a hasty retreat

"He shouted twenty-three skidoo."

"The jazz age slang twenty three skidoo was popular in the 1920s meaning to leave quickly."

to leave a place or move really fast or with haste

"We need to haul ass if we want to catch the bus."

"We need to haul ass if we want to catch the last train home tonight."

to do something very hurriedly, often used when demanding someone to move or leave quickly

"Move your ass, we are late."

"The coach shouted at the lazy player to move his ass during the important game."

as quickly as one possibly can because there is not much time available

"We are working against the clock."

"The paramedics worked against the clock to save the patient's life before it was too late."

to complete a task or achieve a goal before a deadline or a specific time limit

"We beat the clock and finished early."

"The paramedics beat the clock and arrived at the hospital just before the patient heart stopped."

to manage to do something just before the time is over

"I cut it close today."

"I always cut things close when I get ready for work in the morning, which makes me feel very stressed and anxious."

to do something more quickly in order not to be late

"We need to get a move on, or we will be late."

"We need to get a move on because the train leaves in twenty minutes and we are still at home."

to begin doing something much more quickly

"Get your ass in gear and start working."

"You need to get your ass into gear and finish your homework before the deadline."

to do something too earlier than its right time

"Don't jump the gun now."

"She jumped the gun by announcing the results before all the votes had been counted."

said as a way of asking someone to begin doing something or continue doing it faster than before

"Shake a leg, hurry!"

"Come on, shake a leg! We're going to be late for the movie if we don't leave now."

used as a warning to remind one that the time that is left for doing something is about to be over

"The clock is ticking — we need to decide now."

"With the contract expiring in forty-eight hours, the clock was ticking and both sides knew it."

to begin hurrying up or moving faster

"Get the lead out now!"

"You really need to get the lead out if you want to finish this important project before the deadline tomorrow."

used for describing a situation when there is only a little time available and one must hurry up in order to get something done

"It is a race against time to save him."

"The doctors were in a race against time to save the injured patient life."

someone who is late for getting somewhere and anxiously tries to get there

"White rabbit!" she said on the first day."

"The panicked student was a white rabbit, rushing to finish his exam."

used to say that something is done with great speed and determination

"Pedal to the metal now!"

"To make it to the airport on time, we had to drive with the pedal to the metal."

to be forced to wait for a person or anticipate something

"Cool your heels now."

"We had to cool our heels at the airport for three hours due to the unexpected flight delay."

to allow or wait for a situation to become calmer or more stable after a significant change or serious dispute

"Wait for dust to settle."

"After the dramatic announcement, everyone agreed to let the dust settle before discussing the implications further."

to patiently wait and avoid taking action until one finds a suitable or advantageous time

"The cat bided its time before pouncing."

"The spider bided its time in the corner waiting patiently for a fly to land in its web."

to wait for something anxiously or eagerly

"I'll hold my breath."

"Everyone in the audience held their breath as the tightrope walker made the final step across the chasm."

to hold on and not to rush into doing something, often used imperatively

"Hold your horses, we are not ready yet."

"Hold your horses before spending all your money because we need to make a careful plan first."

used for telling a person to be more patient or to think before reacting angrily

"Keep your pants on, please."

"Keep your shirt on; we'll get there eventually, so there's no need to get so agitated."

to spend time wastefully or do something with delay

"Don't let grass grow here."

"If you let the grass grow under your feet, you will miss many great opportunities that life offers to you."

to stop doing anything for a while

"Just hang tight, help is coming soon."

"Just hang tight while I go and find a mechanic to fix our flat tire."

the assessment or understanding of the current state or conditions of a particular situation or context, specifically at a specific point or period

"Let us first see how the land lies."

"Before making a decision the politician wanted to see how the land lay with the voters."

a day that will always be remembered by an exceptionally good thing that has happened on it

"The day she graduated was a red-letter day."

"The day she received her university acceptance letter was a red letter day for her family."

the specific moment when an event or action is scheduled to begin or take place

"It's zero hour."

"The soldiers waited in tense silence for zero hour to commence their strategic operation against the enemy."

the time in which a critical event or action happens

"The moment of truth had finally arrived."

"The moment of truth arrived when the chef opened the oven to see if the cake had risen properly."

a point at which a drastic change occurs in a situation, especially one that makes it improve

"It was important turning point."

"The discovery became a very important turning point in the history of medical science and helped millions of patients."

used for referring to the time after something has happened or been done

"We will celebrate on the other side."

"The community felt a sense of relief and optimism on the other side of the long and difficult election period."

to happen very closely after something else has happened

"It came close on heels."

"The new policy came hard on the heels of the economic crisis that had affected millions of people."

a day of great misfortune and unhappiness

"It was a black day for the team."

"It was a black day for the team when their star player suffered a season ending injury."

used when something happens almost at the same time as another

"He laughed and cried in the same breath."

"She praised his work and criticized him in the same breath which confused everyone listening."

to have no idea how much time has passed or what has happened

"I lost track of time."

"When I started reading that fascinating novel, I completely lost track of time and missed my bus."

to not be busy with anything

"Now that I am retired, I have time on my hands."

"Since he retired he has too much time on his hands and does not know what to do with it."

to go through a process in a way that is natural, normal, or expected

"Let the event run its course."

"We decided to let the argument run its course, hoping they would resolve their differences naturally."

to be too soon to determine what something will result in, particularly because it is still in its early stages of development

"It is early days yet."

"The doctors said it is still early days yet, so we should wait before making any final decisions about treatment."

during the time of year that a type of food, vegetable, or fruit is not naturally grown or easily found

"This is out of season."

"We were disappointed to learn that the fresh strawberries were out of season."