Idioms are fun and creative expressions that bring color to our everyday language, especially when we’re talking about how time flies, drags, or disappears altogether.
In this listicle, we’ll dive into a collection of idioms that capture the passage of time—whether it’s moving too quickly, too slowly, or getting away from us entirely.
Let’s explore these idioms, understand what they mean, and learn how to use them in full, meaningful sentences.
What Is an Idiom About Time Passing?
Idioms about time passing are figurative expressions that describe how time feels, moves, or changes in ways we often experience emotionally—sometimes too fast, other times far too slow. These idioms help us talk about time more expressively and relate to shared human experiences.
Let’s take a closer look at some of the most common and interesting ones:
Idioms for Time Passing
1. Time flies
Meaning: Time seems to move quickly, especially when you’re enjoying yourself or busy.
In a Sentence: Time really flies when you’re hanging out with good friends and completely lose track of the clock until it’s suddenly midnight.
2. In the blink of an eye
Meaning: Something happens very quickly or almost instantly.
In a Sentence: The entire summer vacation passed in the blink of an eye, and before we knew it, school had started again.
3. Beat the clock
Meaning: To finish something before the deadline or time limit.
In a Sentence: He managed to beat the clock by submitting his final essay just five minutes before the portal closed.
4. On borrowed time
Meaning: Living or functioning past the expected time, often temporarily.
In a Sentence: The old computer was running on borrowed time, constantly freezing and crashing every few minutes.
5. Against the clock
Meaning: Working quickly because there is a limited amount of time.
In a Sentence: We were racing against the clock to finish decorating the hall before the guests started arriving.
6. Time is of the essence
Meaning: It’s crucial to act quickly because time is limited.
In a Sentence: When the patient was brought into the emergency room, the doctors knew that time was of the essence to save his life.
7. Call it a day
Meaning: To stop working for the day or end an activity.
In a Sentence: After ten straight hours of coding with only one break, the team finally decided to call it a day and resume tomorrow.
8. Kill time
Meaning: To do something to pass the time while waiting.
In a Sentence: While waiting for her flight, she killed time by reading a mystery novel and sipping coffee at the terminal café.
9. Time heals all wounds
Meaning: Emotional pain and grief lessen as time passes.
In a Sentence: Even though the breakup was painful, she learned to believe that time heals all wounds as the days slowly brought clarity and peace.
10. Time stands still
Meaning: A moment feels as if it’s frozen or moving extremely slowly.
In a Sentence: When he saw her walk down the aisle, it felt like time stood still, and everything around them faded into silence.
11. Make up for lost time
Meaning: To do something faster or more often because you did not do it earlier.
In a Sentence: After being apart for so many years, the childhood friends planned a weekend getaway to make up for lost time and reconnect.
12. Better late than never
Meaning: It’s better to do something late than not at all.
In a Sentence: She submitted her application just before the deadline, reminding herself that better late than never is always a wise mindset.
13. A matter of time
Meaning: Something is certain to happen eventually.
In a Sentence: With his level of talent and dedication, it’s only a matter of time before he lands his dream job in the tech industry.
14. Only time will tell
Meaning: The outcome will become clear in the future.
In a Sentence: They weren’t sure if their startup would succeed, but they remained hopeful because only time will tell what’s meant to be.
15. Behind the times
Meaning: Not keeping up with current trends or modern ideas.
In a Sentence: His refusal to use smartphones or social media makes him seem a bit behind the times in today’s fast-paced world.
16. Time after time
Meaning: Repeatedly or consistently over a period.
In a Sentence: Time after time, she reminded him to bring his umbrella, but he still walked out into the storm unprepared.
17. A race against time
Meaning: A situation where something must be done very quickly.
In a Sentence: It was a race against time to evacuate the town before the hurricane made landfall.
18. Pressed for time
Meaning: Having very little time to do something.
In a Sentence: He was so pressed for time that he skipped breakfast and ran straight to his meeting without even combing his hair.
19. Take your time
Meaning: Don’t rush; proceed at your own pace.
In a Sentence: She told him to take his time with the painting because the quality mattered more than how quickly it was finished.
20. Living on borrowed time
Meaning: Continuing to exist or function despite the likelihood of ending soon.
In a Sentence: After being diagnosed with a terminal illness, he viewed each new day as living on borrowed time and chose to live fully.
21. From dawn till dusk
Meaning: All day long, from early morning until night.
In a Sentence: The farmers worked from dawn till dusk to harvest the crops before the first snowfall arrived.
22. Around the clock
Meaning: All day and night without stopping.
In a Sentence: The hospital staff worked around the clock during the emergency to treat all the incoming patients.
23. Crack of dawn
Meaning: Very early in the morning.
In a Sentence: She woke up at the crack of dawn to catch her flight and avoid rush-hour traffic on the way to the airport.
24. Eleventh hour
Meaning: At the last possible moment.
In a Sentence: He submitted his college application at the eleventh hour, just minutes before the deadline closed.
25. Time is moneyMeaning: Time is valuable and should not be wasted.
In a Sentence: He charged extra for urgent deliveries, reminding clients that in business, time is money and delays cost productivity.
26. All in good time
Meaning: Something will happen eventually, just be patient.
In a Sentence: She kept reminding herself that her career would grow all in good time if she stayed focused and consistent.
27. A stitch in time saves nine
Meaning: Fixing a small problem early can prevent it from becoming a bigger issue.
In a Sentence: By replacing the leaking pipe early, he proved that a stitch in time saves nine and avoided costly repairs later.
28. At the drop of a hat
Meaning: Immediately or without hesitation.
In a Sentence: He was ready to leave for the road trip at the drop of a hat, having already packed everything in advance.
29. Bide your time
Meaning: To wait patiently for a suitable opportunity.
In a Sentence: She decided to bide her time and wait for the perfect moment to pitch her idea to the investors.
30. Third time’s the charm
Meaning: The third attempt at something is often successful.
In a Sentence: After failing her driving test twice, she hoped the third time’s the charm would finally work in her favor.
31. Time waits for no one
Meaning: Time continues regardless of what people do.
In a Sentence: Realizing that time waits for no one, he stopped procrastinating and started working toward his goals immediately.
32. Marking time
Meaning: To wait without doing anything productive.
In a Sentence: He was just marking time at his old job until a better opportunity came along.
33. Ahead of time
Meaning: Before the scheduled time.
In a Sentence: She arrived ahead of time for the interview, which made a great first impression on the hiring manager.
34. Just in time
Meaning: At the last possible moment before something happens.
In a Sentence: He caught the bus just in time, seconds before the doors closed and it drove away.
35. Out of time
Meaning: Having no more time left to complete something.
In a Sentence: The team ran out of time during the presentation and couldn’t finish the final points they had prepared.
36. Time on your hands
Meaning: Having free time with nothing particular to do.
In a Sentence: With some time on her hands during the holidays, she decided to learn how to bake bread from scratch.
37. Once in a blue moon
Meaning: Something that happens very rarely.
In a Sentence: He only visits his hometown once in a blue moon because of his hectic work schedule abroad.
38. Time drags
Meaning: Time seems to pass slowly, usually when one is bored.
In a Sentence: During the long lecture, time dragged so slowly that she checked her watch every five minutes.
39. Pass the time
Meaning: To do something to make the time go by.
In a Sentence: He passed the time on the train by listening to music and people-watching out the window.
40. About time
Meaning: Finally, after a long wait.
In a Sentence: “It’s about time you showed up,” she said with a smile after waiting for nearly an hour at the café.
41. In no time
Meaning: Very quickly or soon.
In a Sentence: They set up the tent in no time thanks to all the practice they had during past camping trips.
42. High time
Meaning: The appropriate or overdue moment to do something.
In a Sentence: It was high time they fixed the broken gate before someone got hurt trying to open it.
43. Take a trip down memory lane
Meaning: To recall or reminisce about the past.
In a Sentence: Looking through her childhood photo album was like taking a warm and emotional trip down memory lane.
44. Lost track of time
Meaning: To be unaware of the time passing, often because you’re absorbed in something.
In a Sentence: She lost track of time while painting and was surprised when the sun started setting outside.
45. Turn back the clock
Meaning: To return to an earlier time or situation.
In a Sentence: Seeing her old high school made her wish she could turn back the clock and relive those simpler days.
46. Keep up with the times
Meaning: To stay informed about current trends, technologies, or ideas.
In a Sentence: He took a coding class to keep up with the times and remain competitive in the job market.
47. Ahead of their time
Meaning: Having ideas or innovations that are advanced compared to the current era.
In a Sentence: Her eco-friendly invention was truly ahead of its time and is only now gaining recognition.
48. The sands of time
Meaning: The passing of time, often with a poetic or serious tone.
In a Sentence: As she celebrated her 80th birthday, she reflected on the sands of time and the journey of her life.
Quizzes About the Idioms in the Article
Quiz 1: Time Flies
What does the idiom “Time flies” mean?
a) Time is heavy
b) Time moves slowly
c) Time passes quickly
d) Time can be paused
Quiz 2: On Borrowed Time
What does “on borrowed time” imply?
a) There’s too much time
b) Living past the expected limit
c) Saving time
d) Borrowing a watch
Quiz 3: Race Against Time
What does it mean to be in a “race against time”?
a) Competing with others
b) Finishing something before time runs out
c) Ignoring the clock
d) Going back in time
Quiz 4: Lost Track of Time
What does “lost track of time” mean?
a) You forgot your watch
b) You don’t care about time
c) You didn’t notice time passing
d) You were counting minutes
Quiz 5: Once in a Blue Moon
What is the meaning of “once in a blue moon”?
a) Once a week
b) Rarely
c) Every night
d) Frequently
Quiz 6: Time is Money
When someone says “Time is money,” what are they trying to express?
a) Time should be spent on entertainment
b) Time is a waste
c) Time is valuable and shouldn’t be wasted
d) You can sell time
Quiz 7: Eleventh Hour
If someone does something at the eleventh hour, what does it mean?
a) They did it early
b) They forgot about it
c) They did it at the last minute
d) They missed the chance
Quiz 8: Turn Back the Clock
What does “turn back the clock” mean?
a) Break your watch
b) Go to bed early
c) Travel to the future
d) Return to an earlier time
Quiz 9: A Stitch in Time Saves Nine
What is the idea behind “a stitch in time saves nine”?
a) Sewing quickly
b) Fixing small issues early prevents bigger ones
c) Time travel
d) Making clothes fast
Quiz 10: Bide Your Time
When someone says “bide your time,” what should you do?
a) Be patient and wait
b) Act immediately
c) Get more clocks
d) Hurry up
Answers:
- c
- b
- b
- c
- b
- c
- c
- d
- b
- a
Conclusion
Idioms about time passing help us express how we feel about moments slipping by, deadlines approaching, or memories lingering. These figurative phrases add depth and creativity to our conversations and writing. Whether you’re reminiscing about the past or racing to meet a deadline, there’s always a time-related idiom to fit the moment. Keep these idioms in mind, and you’ll never run out of ways to describe how time moves through our lives.