Time is something we always talk about. Here’re some cool and practice idioms people use in English while they speak about time.
I bet you know many of them. Let me know in the comments which are your favorite.
And also check if you really understand them with this quiz.
1. Time flies
how quickly time seems to have passed
Wow, Otis was a little boy the last time I saw him! Time flies.
See more sentences with “time flies” in the context
2. Better late than never
when something happens later than you were hoping
Eventually, he wrote and apologized. Better late than never, I guess.
See more sentences with “better late than never” in the context
3. On the dot
happens exactly at the expected time
They arrived at nine o’clock, on the dot.
See more sentences with “on the dot” in the context
4. In the nick of time
If you do something at the last possible moment, (almost too late)
We got to the station just in the nick of time – as we stepped on the train, the doors were closing.
See more sentences with “in the nick of time” in the context
a more formal phrase with a similar meaning is at the eleventh hour
5. In the blink of an eye
Something that happens extremely quickly
I don’t recall many details of the crash – it all happened in the blink of an eye.
See more sentences with “in the blink of an eye” in the context
6. At the crack of dawn
When you do something extremely early in the morning
She’s up at the crack of dawn, feeding the chickens.
See more sentences with “at the crack of dawn” in the context
7. Around the clock
it is done all day and all night, without stopping
Emergency services worked around the clock to rescue stranded residents.
This phrase is also used adjectivally: He’s very sick and needs round-the-clock care.
See more sentences with “around the clock” in the context
Now you can check your knowledge via quiz.
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You can find out more in the original post of the Cambridge Dictionary.
I didn’t know at the crack of dawn
Hey Lida, great to see you here) Well, you have a great vocabulary! Have you ever done something at the crack of a dawn?
Good morning!
I’m Cris. I will appreciate if you start sending me your emails about Vocabulary and Speaking Practice. Because I want to improve my English with Idioms and so forth. Idid appreciate your articles on idioms.
Thank you!
Cris.