Idioms are fun phrases that mean something different from the actual words inside them. People use them to make talking and writing much more colorful and exciting. Today, you are going to learn many interesting expressions related to time passing.
In this lesson, we’ll look at idioms for time passing that mean hours, days, and years moving forward. Let’s get started and explore some of these helpful expressions.
Idioms for Time Passing
1. Time flies
Meaning: Hours and days seem to move very quickly.
For Example: Time flies when you are having fun at the park. / It feels like summer break just started, but time flies.
Other Ways to Say: Speeding time / Fast hours
2. A blast from the past
Meaning: Something that reminds you of a time from long ago.
For Example: That old toy is a real blast from the past. / Seeing my old school photo was a blast from the past.
Other Ways to Say: Memory lane / Old times
3. In the blink of an eye
Meaning: Something happens or passes in a very short moment.
For Example: The weekend was over in the blink of an eye. / He grew taller in the blink of an eye.
Other Ways to Say: Very quickly / Instantly
4. Once in a blue moon
Meaning: Something that happens very rarely over a long period.
For Example: We only visit our cousins once in a blue moon. / I eat dessert once in a blue moon.
Other Ways to Say: Very rarely / Hardly ever
5. Around the clock
Meaning: Something happening all day and all night without stopping.
For Example: The busy hospital works around the clock to help. / My puppy plays around the clock.
Other Ways to Say: All day long / Nonstop
6. Beat the clock
Meaning: To finish something before the time limit ends.
For Example: We had to run to beat the clock before the store closed. / She tried to beat the clock on her math test.
Other Ways to Say: Finish early / Win against time
7. Day in and day out
Meaning: Something that happens every single day for a long time.
For Example: He practices his guitar day in and day out. / The sun shines bright day in and day out.
Other Ways to Say: Every day / Daily routine
8. Turn back the clock
Meaning: To wish you could return to an earlier time.
For Example: I wish I could turn back the clock to last summer. / You cannot turn back the clock so keep moving forward.
Other Ways to Say: Go back / Revisit the past
9. Time stands still
Meaning: A moment feels so special that time seems to stop moving.
For Example: When I saw the beautiful sunset, it felt like time stood still. / At the top of the mountain, time stands still.
Other Ways to Say: Frozen time / Paused moment
10. Call it a day
Meaning: To stop working on something because you are finished for now.
For Example: We have worked hard, so let us call it a day. / It is getting late, so we should call it a day.
Other Ways to Say: Stop working / Finish up
11. Kill time
Meaning: Doing something simple to pass the hours while you wait.
For Example: We read books to kill time at the airport. / He played games to kill time before the movie.
Other Ways to Say: Pass the time / Keep busy
12. For the time being
Meaning: Something happening only for now, but not forever.
For Example: We are staying at grandma’s house for the time being. / Leave the toys here for the time being.
Other Ways to Say: For now / Temporarily
13. Back in the day
Meaning: Referring to a time in the past when things were different.
For Example: Back in the day, kids played outside without phones. / My grandpa tells stories from back in the day.
Other Ways to Say: Long ago / In the past
14. Ahead of his time
Meaning: Someone who has ideas that are more modern than the current period.
For Example: The inventor was truly ahead of his time. / Her artistic style was way ahead of her time.
Other Ways to Say: Modern thinker / Future minded
15. Make up for lost time
Meaning: To do something extra because you could not do it earlier.
For Example: We played all afternoon to make up for lost time. / She studied hard to make up for lost time.
Other Ways to Say: Catch up / Gain ground
16. Just in the nick of time
Meaning: Doing something at the very last possible second.
For Example: We arrived at the station just in the nick of time. / He caught the ball just in the nick of time.
Other Ways to Say: Just on time / Narrowly missed
17. Time is of the essence
Meaning: It is very important to act quickly.
For Example: Please hurry because time is of the essence. / For this rescue mission, time is of the essence.
Other Ways to Say: Hurry up / Very important
18. Third time is the charm
Meaning: After two tries, the third time will finally work.
For Example: I missed twice, but the third time is the charm. / She practiced and the third time is the charm.
Other Ways to Say: Final success / Try again
19. Better late than never
Meaning: Doing something late is still better than not doing it at all.
For Example: He finally arrived, but better late than never. / Sending the card now is better late than never.
Other Ways to Say: Finish eventually / Try anyway
20. Behind the times
Meaning: Someone or something that is not modern or updated.
For Example: That old computer is really behind the times. / His fashion style is a bit behind the times.
Other Ways to Say: Outdated / Old fashioned
21. Time will tell
Meaning: You have to wait for the future to know the truth.
For Example: Will the flowers grow? Only time will tell. / We are unsure of the result, but time will tell.
Other Ways to Say: Wait and see / Future reveals
22. Lost track of time
Meaning: You did not realize how much time had passed.
For Example: I lost track of time while playing in the yard. / We lost track of time talking with friends.
Other Ways to Say: Forgot the hour / Didn’t notice time
23. A long time coming
Meaning: Something that took a very long period to happen.
For Example: This new playground was a long time coming. / The rain today was a long time coming.
Other Ways to Say: Took forever / Finally arrived
24. For a long time
Meaning: A duration that lasts many hours, days, or years.
For Example: We walked for a long time in the woods. / I have known my best friend for a long time.
Other Ways to Say: Many hours / Many days
25. Time on your hands
Meaning: Having plenty of free time to do what you want.
For Example: Now that school is out, I have plenty of time on my hands. / She painted pictures because she had time on her hands.
Other Ways to Say: Free time / Spare moments
26. Killing time
Meaning: Spending minutes on something unimportant to wait for something else.
For Example: We were killing time by counting cars on the road. / He was killing time until his parents arrived.
Other Ways to Say: Wasting moments / Passing time
27. Day by day
Meaning: Moving forward slowly, one single day at a time.
For Example: He is getting better at piano day by day. / We build the wall day by day.
Other Ways to Say: Slowly progressing / Daily steps
28. In the long run
Meaning: Looking at the final result after a long time.
For Example: It is hard now, but in the long run, you will learn. / Practicing will help in the long run.
Other Ways to Say: Eventually / Ultimately
29. Time out
Meaning: A short period to stop and rest or think.
For Example: Let us take a time out from our chores. / The coach called for a time out during the game.
Other Ways to Say: Short break / Pause
30. From time to time
Meaning: Something that happens occasionally, but not often.
For Example: We go to the beach from time to time. / I eat pizza from time to time.
Other Ways to Say: Occasionally / Sometimes
31. Time heals all wounds
Meaning: You will feel better as time moves forward.
For Example: Being sad is normal, but time heals all wounds. / Just wait, because time heals all wounds.
Other Ways to Say: Feel better / Sadness fades
32. All in good time
Meaning: Things will happen when the moment is right.
For Example: You will learn to ride, all in good time. / Do not rush, it will happen all in good time.
Other Ways to Say: Be patient / Correct moment
33. Time and tide wait for no man
Meaning: You cannot stop the passing of time for anyone.
For Example: We must leave now because time and tide wait for no man. / Keep moving since time and tide wait for no man.
Other Ways to Say: Time moves on / Unstoppable time
34. Pressed for time
Meaning: You have very little time to do something.
For Example: I am pressed for time before my music lesson. / We were pressed for time to cook dinner.
Other Ways to Say: Short on time / Rushed
35. Take your time
Meaning: Do not rush and do things carefully.
For Example: Please take your time with your homework. / Take your time to paint the picture nicely.
Other Ways to Say: Go slow / No rush
36. Have the time of your life
Meaning: To have a wonderful and exciting experience.
For Example: We are going to have the time of our life at the circus. / You will have the time of your life on vacation.
Other Ways to Say: Great fun / Amazing time
37. Time is money
Meaning: Time is very valuable so do not waste it.
For Example: Let us work fast because time is money. / Do not waste hours since time is money.
Other Ways to Say: Valuable hours / Precious time
38. Just another day at the office
Meaning: Something usual or normal happening again.
For Example: Cleaning the dishes is just another day at the office for me. / Fixing broken toys is just another day at the office.
Other Ways to Say: Usual routine / Normal day
39. Days are numbered
Meaning: Something will end very soon.
For Example: The hot summer days are numbered. / My old shoes’ days are numbered before they fall apart.
Other Ways to Say: Near the end / Short time left
40. Time to kill
Meaning: Having spare minutes with nothing to do.
For Example: I have some time to kill before my friend arrives. / We had time to kill at the park.
Other Ways to Say: Free moments / Nothing to do
41. In due time
Meaning: Something will happen when it is meant to.
For Example: You will find your lost toy in due time. / It will be ready in due time.
Other Ways to Say: Soon enough / When ready
42. A matter of time
Meaning: Something is certain to happen eventually.
For Example: It is a matter of time before the rain stops. / Success is just a matter of time for him.
Other Ways to Say: Certain to happen / Bound to happen
43. Before your time
Meaning: Something that happened before you were born or arrived.
For Example: That old song was from before your time. / Those movies were before your time.
Other Ways to Say: Older than you / Past your years
44. Make time
Meaning: To find a way to fit something into your schedule.
For Example: I will make time to visit you this weekend. / You should make time to read every day.
Other Ways to Say: Find a moment / Schedule it
45. Time to go
Meaning: It is the moment to leave.
For Example: It is time to go to the school bus. / Pack your bag because it is time to go.
Other Ways to Say: Time to leave / Time to depart
46. Spend time
Meaning: Using your hours to do something or be with someone.
For Example: I love to spend time with my friends. / We spend time reading books together.
Other Ways to Say: Use hours / Be together
47. Waste time
Meaning: To do things that are not useful or important.
For Example: Do not waste time playing instead of working. / It is a waste of time to be sad.
Other Ways to Say: Squander hours / Idle away
48. Time after time
Meaning: Something that happens again and again.
For Example: He gets the answer right time after time. / We visit this park time after time.
Other Ways to Say: Again and again / Repeatedly
49. In the nick of time
Meaning: At the very last moment before something happens.
For Example: She saved the day in the nick of time. / The bus arrived in the nick of time.
Other Ways to Say: Just in time / Last second
50. High time
Meaning: It is long past the time something should have happened.
For Example: It is high time you cleaned your room. / It is high time we left for the trip.
Other Ways to Say: Should have happened / Past due
51. The time has come
Meaning: The moment for something important is here.
For Example: The time has come to start our big project. / The time has come for us to move to a new house.
Other Ways to Say: The moment is here / Start now
52. On the spur of the moment
Meaning: Doing something suddenly without planning it first.
For Example: We decided to have a picnic on the spur of the moment. / She chose the blue dress on the spur of the moment.
Other Ways to Say: Suddenly / Unplanned
53. All the time
Meaning: Every moment or very often.
For Example: My brother plays soccer all the time. / You think about your friends all the time.
Other Ways to Say: Frequently / Constantly
54. At times
Meaning: Occasionally or sometimes.
For Example: Math can be hard at times. / At times, I like to sit quietly.
Other Ways to Say: Sometimes / Once in a while
55. Time is up
Meaning: The allowed duration has finished.
For Example: Pencils down, time is up for the test. / The game is over because time is up.
Other Ways to Say: Finished / Over
56. Take time off
Meaning: To stop working for a while to rest.
For Example: My dad will take time off for the holidays. / You should take time off to get healthy.
Other Ways to Say: Get a break / Rest days
57. The time of day
Meaning: Giving attention or notice to someone.
For Example: He would not give me the time of day. / She was too busy to give him the time of day.
Other Ways to Say: Notice someone / Acknowledge
58. Have a whale of a time
Meaning: To have a very exciting and fun time.
For Example: We had a whale of a time at the birthday party. / They will have a whale of a time at the fair.
Other Ways to Say: Huge fun / Great time
59. Just in time
Meaning: Arriving or finishing exactly at the right moment.
For Example: We got to the train just in time. / She finished the drawing just in time for class.
Other Ways to Say: At the right moment / Perfectly timed
60. Time will tell
Meaning: You will know the answer after waiting.
For Example: We do not know who won, but time will tell. / Is he coming? Time will tell.
Other Ways to Say: Wait and see / Future shows
Exercise to Practice
- We were ________ to reach the station before the train left.
- It is ________ you finished your homework.
- We try to visit the library ________.
- I have ________ at the office, doing the same work.
- He ________ while waiting for the bus to arrive.
- The weekend passed ________.
- I ________ while I was playing video games.
- We ________ in the woods.
- You should ________ with your homework instead of rushing.
- We decided to go for ice cream ________.
- My dog plays ________.
- ________, the sun will come out again.
- We must finish now because ________.
- My brother practices his guitar ________.
- It is ________ to start our big project.
Answer Key
- pressed for time
- high time
- from time to time
- just another day at the office
- killed time
- in the blink of an eye
- lost track of time
- walked for a long time
- take your time
- on the spur of the moment
- around the clock
- in the long run
- time is money
- day in and day out
- the time has come
Conclusion
Learning these idioms for time passing can help you describe how quickly or slowly time moves in interesting ways. These expressions make your stories and everyday conversations more colorful and engaging. They can also help you express feelings about memories, changes, and the passing of important moments. Try using a few of these phrases when talking with friends or writing at school. With regular practice, you can make your English sound more natural and expressive. Use these idioms in real-life conversations to make your language more lively and enjoyable.
