Time is an essential part of language — and idioms help us express how we feel about it. Whether we’re running late, feeling nostalgic, or looking ahead, we turn to colorful phrases that make our conversations more vivid and relatable.
Below are 50 idioms about time that are commonly used in everyday English. Each one helps describe the passage, value, and effects of time in a creative way.
1. Beat the clock
- Meaning: Finish something before time runs out.
- In a Sentence: We had to beat the clock to submit the project before the deadline.
- Other Ways to Say: Finish early; Race against time.
2. Time flies
- Meaning: Time passes very quickly.
- In a Sentence: Time flies when you’re having fun.
- Other Ways to Say: Time speeds by; Blink and it’s gone.
3. Behind the times
- Meaning: Outdated or old-fashioned.
- In a Sentence: His fashion sense is a bit behind the times.
- Other Ways to Say: Out of touch; Stuck in the past.
4. Call it a day
- Meaning: Stop working for the day.
- In a Sentence: We’ve done enough—let’s call it a day.
- Other Ways to Say: Wrap up; Clock out.
5. Around the clock
- Meaning: All day and night, without stopping.
- In a Sentence: The nurses worked around the clock.
- Other Ways to Say: 24/7; Nonstop.
6. In the nick of time
- Meaning: Just in time; at the last possible moment.
- In a Sentence: We got to the airport in the nick of time.
- Other Ways to Say: Just made it; Barely on time.
7. Pressed for time
- Meaning: Not having enough time.
- In a Sentence: I’m pressed for time, so I’ll be brief.
- Other Ways to Say: In a hurry; Rushed.
8. Kill time
- Meaning: Do something while waiting.
- In a Sentence: I read a magazine to kill time before the appointment.
- Other Ways to Say: Pass time; Bide time.
9. Ahead of time
- Meaning: Early or before expected.
- In a Sentence: We finished the job ahead of time.
- Other Ways to Say: Early; Before schedule.
10. Behind schedule
- Meaning: Later than planned.
- In a Sentence: The project is behind schedule.
- Other Ways to Say: Running late; Delayed.
11. Time is money
- Meaning: Time is valuable and shouldn’t be wasted.
- In a Sentence: Let’s get to work — time is money!
- Other Ways to Say: Time is precious; Use time wisely.
12. Bide your time
- Meaning: Wait patiently for the right moment.
- In a Sentence: She’s biding her time before making a move.
- Other Ways to Say: Wait it out; Hold off.
13. Lose track of time
- Meaning: Become unaware of how much time has passed.
- In a Sentence: I was so immersed in the book, I lost track of time.
- Other Ways to Say: Forget the clock; Time slipped away.
14. Out of time
- Meaning: No time left.
- In a Sentence: Sorry, we’re out of time.
- Other Ways to Say: Time’s up; Deadline’s here.
15. Once in a blue moon
- Meaning: Very rarely.
- In a Sentence: He only visits once in a blue moon.
- Other Ways to Say: Rarely; Almost never.
16. Make time for
- Meaning: Set aside time intentionally.
- In a Sentence: I always make time for family.
- Other Ways to Say: Prioritize; Set aside time.
17. Race against time
- Meaning: Rush to finish something quickly.
- In a Sentence: It was a race against time to save the patient.
- Other Ways to Say: Beat the clock; Urgent deadline.
18. In due time
- Meaning: Eventually; at the right time.
- In a Sentence: You’ll succeed in due time.
- Other Ways to Say: Eventually; Sooner or later.
19. Third time’s a charm
- Meaning: The third attempt is likely to succeed.
- In a Sentence: He failed twice, but the third time’s a charm.
- Other Ways to Say: Success after persistence.
20. Eleventh hour
- Meaning: At the last moment.
- In a Sentence: She submitted her paper at the eleventh hour.
- Other Ways to Say: Just in time; Final moment.
Here is the continuation and completion of your SEO-friendly list of 50 idioms for time:
21. Against the clock
- Meaning: Working under time pressure.
- In a Sentence: We’re working against the clock to meet the deadline.
- Other Ways to Say: Rushed work; On a tight schedule.
22. All in good time
- Meaning: Something will happen eventually, with patience.
- In a Sentence: Don’t worry, all in good time.
- Other Ways to Say: Be patient; It’ll happen.
23. Big time
- Meaning: To a great extent or degree.
- In a Sentence: She messed up big time.
- Other Ways to Say: Majorly; Hugely.
24. Time heals all wounds
- Meaning: Pain and suffering lessen with time.
- In a Sentence: You may feel hurt now, but time heals all wounds.
- Other Ways to Say: Healing takes time; Pain fades.
25. For the time being
- Meaning: Temporarily.
- In a Sentence: You can stay here for the time being.
- Other Ways to Say: For now; As of now.
26. From time to time
- Meaning: Occasionally.
- In a Sentence: I visit my grandparents from time to time.
- Other Ways to Say: Now and then; Once in a while.
27. Have a hard time
- Meaning: Struggle or find something difficult.
- In a Sentence: She’s having a hard time adjusting to her new job.
- Other Ways to Say: Struggling; Finding it tough.
28. Have time on your hands
- Meaning: Have free time, often too much of it.
- In a Sentence: I had time on my hands, so I started painting.
- Other Ways to Say: Free time; Extra hours.
29. High time
- Meaning: Past the appropriate time; overdue.
- In a Sentence: It’s high time we fixed that leak.
- Other Ways to Say: Long overdue; Finally time.
30. Just a matter of time
- Meaning: Certain to happen sooner or later.
- In a Sentence: It’s just a matter of time before they succeed.
- Other Ways to Say: Inevitable; Bound to happen.
31. Make up for lost time
- Meaning: Do something faster or more often to compensate.
- In a Sentence: I missed practice, so now I’m making up for lost time.
- Other Ways to Say: Catching up; Recovering time.
32. On borrowed time
- Meaning: Living or operating past expected limits.
- In a Sentence: The old car’s running on borrowed time.
- Other Ways to Say: Near the end; Temporary extension.
33. Only time will tell
- Meaning: The outcome will be known in the future.
- In a Sentence: Only time will tell if the treatment worked.
- Other Ways to Say: Let’s wait and see; Time reveals truth.
34. Save time
- Meaning: Use time efficiently.
- In a Sentence: Ordering groceries online saves time.
- Other Ways to Say: Time-efficient; Quick solution.
35. Take your time
- Meaning: Don’t rush.
- In a Sentence: No hurry — take your time.
- Other Ways to Say: Go at your pace; Relaxed timing.
36. Time after time
- Meaning: Repeatedly.
- In a Sentence: Time after time, he forgets his keys.
- Other Ways to Say: Over and over; Repeatedly.
37. Time is of the essence
- Meaning: Time is critically important.
- In a Sentence: Time is of the essence in rescue missions.
- Other Ways to Say: Act quickly; Urgency matters.
38. Time of your life
- Meaning: An extremely enjoyable or memorable experience.
- In a Sentence: We had the time of our lives at the festival.
- Other Ways to Say: Unforgettable moment; Amazing time.
39. Waste time
- Meaning: Spend time doing unproductive things.
- In a Sentence: Don’t waste time arguing.
- Other Ways to Say: Squander time; Kill time pointlessly.
40. A race against time
- Meaning: A situation with extreme time pressure.
- In a Sentence: It became a race against time to finish the surgery.
- Other Ways to Say: Critical timing; Countdown pressure.
41. In the blink of an eye
- Meaning: Very quickly.
- In a Sentence: Everything changed in the blink of an eye.
- Other Ways to Say: Instantly; So fast.
42. Crunch time
- Meaning: A short period when high effort is needed.
- In a Sentence: It’s crunch time before finals.
- Other Ways to Say: Peak pressure; Final push.
43. Old as time
- Meaning: Extremely old or ancient.
- In a Sentence: That myth is as old as time.
- Other Ways to Say: Ancient; Timeless.
44. Set the clock back
- Meaning: Return to an earlier way of doing things.
- In a Sentence: That decision sets the clock back decades.
- Other Ways to Say: Regress; Undo progress.
45. Turn back the hands of time
- Meaning: Revisit or undo the past.
- In a Sentence: I wish I could turn back the hands of time.
- Other Ways to Say: Reverse time; Relive the past.
46. Living on borrowed time
- Meaning: Existing longer than expected.
- In a Sentence: After the diagnosis, he knew he was living on borrowed time.
- Other Ways to Say: Nearing the end; Temporary lease on life.
47. The sands of time
- Meaning: The passing of time.
- In a Sentence: The sands of time don’t stop for anyone.
- Other Ways to Say: Flow of time; Life’s countdown.
48. Mark time
- Meaning: Wait idly or without progress.
- In a Sentence: He was just marking time until retirement.
- Other Ways to Say: Stalling; Going through motions.
49. Buy time
- Meaning: Delay something to gain an advantage.
- In a Sentence: She asked a question to buy time to think.
- Other Ways to Say: Stall; Postpone wisely.
50. Living on a timeline
- Meaning: Being bound to a schedule or expectation.
- In a Sentence: We’re all living on a timeline — make your days count.
- Other Ways to Say: Time-bound; Deadline-driven.
Conclusion: Let Time Speak Through Idioms
Time governs everything — from our daily routines to our biggest life decisions. And as language evolves, so does the way we express our relationship with time. These idioms for time offer more than just clever phrases — they capture urgency, patience, nostalgia, opportunity, and the constant ticking of life itself.
Whether you’re trying to beat the clock, reflect on the good old days, or mark time before your next big move, idioms give you a powerful and poetic way to speak about life’s most elusive resource. So the next time you’re writing, speaking, or teaching about time, reach for one of these timeless expressions — and let the idiom do the talking.