Time expression & idioms

any minute soon now - The news about the president's resignation will be broadcasted on TV any moment now.

(Also any moment/second/time now) very soon.

biennial syn= annual

A biennial event happens once every two years

cuckoo clock

A clock with a wooden bird inside that comes out every hour and makes a sound

by the time - The phone was ringing but by the time she got indoors, it had stopped.

A particular minute, hour, day etc. when something happens or should happen

daylight hours daytime hours - The park is open during daylight hours.

A particular period or point of time during the day

epoch syn: Era - The beginning of a new epoch - The Victorian epoch. - The Victorian epoch. - The beginning of a new epoch. - The King's death marked the end of an epoch.

A period of history

era (of) - A new era of world peace - We live in era of instant communication.

A period of time in history that is known for a particular event, or for particular qualities

a lot of water passed / has / gone under the bridge since we last - A lot of water has flowed under the bridge since we won the trophy; it will be interesting to see what has been happening to the members of the team. - It was at the airmen's dance that I met my future husband, but a lot of water was to flow under the bridge before we got married.

A usual comment when you haven't seen people for a long time. Used in order to say that a lot of time has passed or that a situation has changed a lot since a particular event.

eventually - He eventually escaped and made his way back to England. - Eventually, she got a job and moved to London.

After a long time, or after a lot of things have happened.

afterwards - Charles arrived shortly afterwards.

After an event or time that has already been mentioned

around the clock round the clock (BrE) - Kim has been working round the clock to finish it in time. - Around-the-clock care - The prisoner requires around the clock (= round-the-clock, constant) surveillance.

All day and all night without stopping

antecedent - Historical antecedents.

An event, organization, or thing that is similar to the one you have mentioned but existed earlier

Eon (= Aeon) - Eons of geological history - Over the eons, the river changed its course many times. - How have you been? I haven't seen you in eons! (= ages)

An extremely long period of time

chronological - We arranged the documents in chronological order.

Arrange according to when things happened or were made

Do something else when you're at work - On New Year's Eve we always open the champagne on the dot of midnight.

At a precise time

currently - The products those are currently available. - He is currently working as his first novel.

At the present time

ahead of his / her time - He's definitely ahead of his time. He's always got so many fascinating ideas. - I think we'll get there ahead of time. - Wow, we're ahead of time today.

Be forward-thinking

ahead of time behind time - He's definitely ahead of his time. He's always got so many fascinating ideas.

Be forward-thinking

before your time - There used to be a post office here. That was before your time, of course.

Before a person lived or worked in a place

beforehand - The police need to be briefed beforehand on how to deal with this sort of situation. - When you give a speech, it's natural to feel nervous beforehand.

Before something else happens or is done

ancient - The ancient civilization of Asia

Belonging to a time long ago in history, especially thousands of years ago

call time on - The government are calling time on internet spammers.

Bring an end to something

call somebody / something off - She called off her wedding at the last minute. - The trip to Italy might be called off.

Cancel / to decide that a planned event will not take place

carry on - Are you going to carry on with skiing?

Continue doing sth.

durable syn= Long-lasting - His poetry has proved durable.

Continuing for a long time

every minute - I enjoyed every minute of the match. It was just fantastic.

Describing the whole period that something lasted.

at the drop of a hat - I've got great friends. They're ready to help out at the drop of a hat.

Do something immediately and without hesitation

beat the clock - We managed to beat the clock and get everything finished in time.

Do something within the deadline

don't be half an hour - Go and put on your hat and don't be half an hour about it.

Don't be long about it

fall behind - He's falling behind on his mortgage payments.

Fail to produce sth at the right time.

annual syn = yearly - The school trip has become as annual event.

Happening once a year

belated - A belated attempt to increase support

Happening or arriving late

carry the day

If something carries the day, it wins a battle (the sense is that the battle has been long and could have gone either way) or competition for supremacy.

At the eleventh hour - Our team won after they scored a goal at the eleventh hour.

If something happens at the eleventh hour, it happens when it is almost too late, or at the last possible moment.

at the same time - Kate and I both went to live in Spain at the same time.

If two things happen at the same time, they both happen together

clean your clock

If you clan your clock, you beat someone decisively in a contest or fight.

don't know whether wind a watch or bark at the moon

If you don't know what to do, you don't know whether to wind a watch or bark at the moon.

Day in the sun

If you have your day in the sun, you get attention and are appreciated.

as soon as - As soon as she entered the room, she knew there was something wrong. - I'll come over to your place as soon as I can.

Immediately after something happens, without delay

after the watershed

It is the time limit after which more controversial subjects, bad language, etc. can be shown on TV in some countries.

as time goes by - As time has gone by I have become less interested in going to nightclubs on the weekend.

It means as time passes or moves. The passing of time.

brief - She once made a brief appearance on television. - During her brief reign, Mary had over 300 of her own subjects burnt alive.

It means something that lasts for only a short time, or does not contain too many details

cut it / things fine - You're counting just an hour between the airport and the train station - isn't that cutting things a bit fine?

It means you leave barely enough time to do something.

against the clock - Everyone is racing against the clock to get things ready in time - They are working against the clock to have the presentation ready for Monday.

It means you work as quickly as you can because you do not have much time

by degrees - By degrees their business relationship grew into friendship.

It used when something happens or develops gradually or little by little as time goes by.

all along - I had been looking for my keys for some time before I realized they had been in my pocket all along. - I had been looking for my keys for some time before I realized they had been in my pocket all along.

It used when something has existed or been somewhere all the time, from the beginning.

down to the wire - There's nothing as exciting as watching a game that goes down to the wire.

It used when the situation of something such as project or a match can change up until the last possible moment.

be pressed for time - A government department that is pressed for both time and money.

Not have enough time.

(Every) now and then (Every) now an again - We still see each other (every) now and then. - Now and then she would come in to check on me. - The silence in the house was broken now and again by the ringing of the telephone.

Not often but sometimes.

behind the times - He's so behind the times. He still plays records! Can you believe it!

Old-fashioned

bring up sth bring sth up - I was brought up as Catholic.

Raise children

classical - A large building of classical design

Relating to the style of Ancient Greece or Rome

clock in / on (BrE) punch in (AmE) - We need to clock in after we come back from lunch. - I clock on at 8:30.

Sign in or out of a company to show the hours you've worked / to record on a special card the time you arrive at or being work

day to day - The day to day running of this office needs to be more efficient, nothing seems to get done on time!

Something that happens as part of a usual routine.

crack of down

The crack of down is very early in the morning.

bicentennial - The bicentennial of the Declaration of Independence.

The day or year exactly 200 years after an important event

final - The third and final day of the conference was different. - This was the final stage in the process.

The one is the last in a series of events, things, or people.

daylight saving time

The time during the summer when clocks are one hour ahead of standard time.

at twilight syn= dusk - Romantic walks along the beach at twilight.

The time when day is just starting to become night

bedtime - It's way past your bedtime! - A bedtime story

The time when you usually go to bed

cockcrow - Bob gets up at cockcrow.

The very beginning of daylight (dawn)

Big time

This can be used to with the meaning "very much" - if you like something big time, you like it a lot.

Even a broken clock is right twice a day Even a stopped clock is right twice a day

This is used when people get lucky and are undeservedly.

call it a day - Come on, let's call it a day and go home.

To decide to stop working, especially because you have done enough or you are tired

(Do something on the) spur of the moment - I decide, on the spur of the moment, to go up to Seattle to talk to Don about my job offer. - I don't know what made me do it. It was a spur-of-the-moment decision.

To do something quickly without thinking about it before you do it.

a mile a minute - I couldn't keep track of everything he was saying. He talks at a mile a minute!

To do something very quickly

clock in (BrE) clock on (BrE) punch in (AmE) - Staff should clock in on arrival - I clock in at 8 a.m.

To record on a special card the time you arrive at or begin work

clock off (BrE) - What time did you clock off yesterday? - I clocked off 10 minutes later.

To record on a special card the time you stop or leave work

clock out (BrE) punch out (AmE) - She clocks out at 5:15. - It's time to clock out and go home.

To record on a special card the time you stop or leave work

do time - He'd done some time in Joliet when he was younger. - You're not going to do time just to protect her, are you?

To spend time in prison

be marking time - When I decided to start working part-time, I did realize that it might mean marking time in my career, but in fact I don't think that has happened. - I just love motor racing - everything else just feels like marking time.

To spend time not doing very much or not achieving anything, specially because you are waiting to see how a situation develops or waiting for something to happen

bide your time - I'd advise you to bide your time and see what turns up in the way of a job - Lisa bided her time, reading magazine, until the secretary left her desk for a moment.

To wait patiently for the right moment to do something or until something happens

do something in someone's own good time - Knowing Bobby, he'll tell us his plans in his own good time. - You set off and we'll follow in our own good time.

Used in order to say that you will do something when you are ready to do it, and not when other people want you to do it.

around the corner - Christmas is just around the corner and I haven't even bought any gifts for my family yet!

Used to describe something that will happen very soon.

better late than never - Do you know what time it is? You promised you'd come early to help me, but better late than never I suppose.

Used to say that even if something happens late or someone arrives late, this is better that it not happening or their not arriving at all

as long as so long as - You can go out to play as long as you stay in the back yard. - So long as you feel that way I'll leave.

Used to say that one thing can happen or be true only if another thing happens or is true

catch someone at the bad time - I'm sorry Jeff, have I caught you at a bad time? I wanted to talk about tomorrow's meeting.

Used when someone is being interrupted at an inconvenient time

before you can say Jack Robinson before you know where you are - Now you sit down, she said, and I'll make up the bed before you can say Jack Robinson. - One thing leads to another, and before you know where you are you're mixed up with a lot of riff-raff and you can't get rid of them.

Very quickly, very soon, in no time

crunch time - As the Executive Director stepped out onto the podium, his clothes felt damp, and sweat beads were forming on his forehead. He knew it was crunch time.

When someone has to make an important decision that will affect not just their future, but those of others around them too

delay delay in delay of - Why was there a delay in warning the public?. - A delay of about an hour

When someone or something has to wait, or the length of the waiting time

dwell on the past - I wish you'd stop dwelling on the past, she's never going to come back. You need to move on with your life!

When someone thinks too much about the past, and it becomes a problem.

days are numbered - The doctors say his days are numbered. They don't have much hope of him surviving this illness.

When someone's days are numbered, they are expected to die soon.

come of cage

When something comes of age it develops completely and reaches maturity when someone comes of age, they reach adulthood or fulfill their potential.

come of age - He has come of age now, and is wise enough to take the throne and become king.

When something develops completely and reaches maturity. Also used for when a person reaches adulthood or fulfills their potential.

anniversary - Jack and Kim celebrated their twentieth wedding anniversary in January.

a date on which something special or important happened in a previous year

a month (week) of Sundays - IT will take me a month of Sundays to do it.

a long time; never

constant(ly) a. She suggests that women are under constant pressure to be abnormally thin. a. Inflation is a constant threat. b. The average speed of the winds remained constant. b. The climate is tropical with a fairly constant temperature at 24 degree Celsius.

a. Describe something that happens all the time or is always there. b. If talking about an amount or level, it stays the same over a particular period of time.

all in good time a. I'd love to see it. "All in good time." b. "When we can open our presents, Mum?" "All in good time Billy." b. "Any news? I can't wait to hear." "Patience, Emily. All in good time."

a. Used in order to tell someone to be patient, because something they are waiting for will certainly happen after a period of time, and probably quiet soon. b. Used when someone wants to do something soon but you want to wait a little

after hours out of hours (BrE) - The professor gave our his phone number or students could reach him after hours.

after the time when a business, especially a bar, is supposed to close

Aeon

an extremely long period of time

at the last minute - We'd decided we weren't going to go aboard this summer and then, at the last minute, we decided we did want a sunny, beach holiday after all.

at the latest possible chance to do something.

DST

daily saving time

a race against time - There's a race against time to save the rainforest.

have to do something fast within a decline

feast today, famine tomorrow

if you indulge yourself with all that you have today, you may have to go without tomorrow.

a stitch in time (saves nine) - A stitch in time saves nine; if the Council had acted three years ago, when the building was first surveyed, the damaged would not be so extensive now.

it means that if a job needs doing it is better to do it now, because it will only get worse, like a hole in clothes that require stitching. used in order to say that if you spend a little time or effort dealing with a problem when it first appears, you will probably stop it turning into a very big problem that is more difficult to deal with

a whole of time - I had a whole of time at your party. Please invite me to your next one.

it means to have a great time. To do something really fun.

a waste of time - It's a waste of time calling that company. They never answer the telephones.

it refers to anything that is not a useful way to spend your time. Doing something pointless or useless.

come back - I'll come back to that point in a moment.

return

about time too! (BrE) - "Nick and Jane are getting married." About time too! They've been going out together forever. - The access to medical records Bill becomes law in November. All we can say is, it's about time!

said when something happens that you think should have happened earlier

all of a sudden - All of a sudden the lights went out.

suddenly