Expression Meaning
As time goes by As the time passes
Ahead of time In advance, before the set time
Behind the times Be old-fashioned; have ideas that are out of date
By the time Before reaching the time when something happens
(with no specific time mentioned).
By this time Similar to 'before now'.
At some time before the present moment (a
specific time).
By that time Similar to 'before then'.
Before a specific time in the past or the future.
Do/serve time Spend time in prison
For the time being For the moment; temporarily
Have the time of Enjoy yourself very much
your life
High time Past the appropriate time
In the nick of time/ At the last minute, before it's too late
Just in time
Make time Find the time to do something
Matter of time Not long before something happens
Pass the time Occupy yourself while waiting
Pressed for time Need to hurry
Race against time Have to work quickly to get something done before
a set time
Run out of time Have no time left
Save time Do something the quickest way
Short of time Not have much time
Spend time Pass time doing something
Stand the test of Something still found valuable and useful after
time many years
Time after time Do something again and again; repeatedly
Time flies Time goes by or passes very quickly.
Time is money Time should not be wasted because you could be
using it to earn money.
Expression Meaning
Time is ripe A suitable time to do something
Time will tell Only in the future will the result be known
Waste time Spend too much time on something
(A) waste of time Spend too much time on something pointless or
useless
Example
As time goes by I have become more aware of the necessity to preserve our planet.
If I finish the project ahead of time I'll be able to focus on the presentation.
The way he runs his coffee shop is completely behind the times.
By the time Julie arrived at the station the train had left.
Look at the time! It's midnight. By this time I'm usually asleep in bed!
- Past: Julie arrived at the station at 11.15, but by that time the train had left.
- Future: What will I be doing in 2070? Not much because by that time I'll be an old man!
He's doing time for a bank robbery.
Laura has left John and is living with her parents for the time being.
The kids had the time of their lives at Disneyland.
It's high time you got out of bed!.
We arrived in the nick of time. The bus was about to leave!
It's important to make time for your family.
It's only a matter of time before the company is taken over.
The train was late so I made some phone calls to pass the time.
How long will it take? I'm really pressed for time.
It was a race against time to get everything ready for the inauguration.
Paul ran out of time and had to finish the test quickly.
We'll save time if we go through the park.
I'll be brief because we're short of time.
Example
How much time do you spend on your homework?
The teaching method has stood the test of time. It is still used in schools today.
Time after time Alex arrives late at school.
It's hard to believe we've been living here two years already. Time flies!
Don't waste time on minor details. Time is money!
I'll wait until the time is ripe before asking my parents to lend me the money.
Have we made the right choice? (Only) time will tell.
Don't waste time on unimportant details.
It's a waste of time calling them. You'lll just get an answering machine!