Time

20 words

1. 1

   on the dotidiom/ɒn ðə dɒt/

   Exactly at the stated time.

   “She arrived at 8 a.m. on the dot.”

2. 2

   press for timeidiom/prɛs fɔː(r) taɪm/

   to be short of time; to have little time available

   “I'm a bit press for time today, so can we meet for 20 minutes only?”

3. 3

   time will tellidiom/taɪm wɪl tɛl/

   used to say that the truth or result of something will only be known in the future

   “We don't know if the policy will work yet — time will tell.”

4. 4

   behind the timesidiom/bɪˈhaɪnd ðə taɪmz/

   not modern; out of date compared to current ideas or technology

   “Some people still prefer typewriters and are behind the times.”

5. 5

   buy timeidiom/baɪ taɪm/

   delay something or create extra time so you can deal with a problem

   “He asked about the homework to buy time while he tried to remember the answer.”

6. 6

   time fliesidiom/taɪm flaɪz/

   used to say that time seems to pass very quickly

   “Time flies when you're enjoying yourself—it's already been five years since graduation.”

7. 7

   time waits for no oneidiom/taɪm weɪts fɔː(r) nəʊ wʌn/

   people should not delay because time moves on and opportunities pass

   “You should start saving now — time waits for no one.”

8. 8

   ahead of scheduleidiom/əˈhɛd əv ˈʃɛdjuːl/

   Earlier than the planned time.

   “The team finished the report ahead of schedule.”

9. 9

   strike while the iron is hotidiom

   to take action at the most advantageous moment

   “When the investor showed interest, she struck while the iron was hot and secured funding.”

10. 10

    at the eleventh houridiom/ət ði ɪˈlɛvənθ ˈaʊə/

    at the last possible moment before a deadline

    “They changed the itinerary at the eleventh hour, just before departing.”

11. 11

    make the most of (one's) timeidiom

    to use time in the best possible way

    “She made the most of her free evenings by learning English online.”

12. 12

    call it a dayidiom/kɔːl ɪt ə deɪ/

    To stop working on something for the rest of the day.

    “We've been working for ten hours; let's call it a day.”

13. 13

    against the clockidiom/əˌɡenst ðə ˈklɒk/

    racing to finish something before a deadline

    “We worked against the clock to finish the report before the meeting.”

14. 14

    ahead of one's timeidiom/əˈhɛd əv wʌnz taɪm/

    Having ideas or qualities that are more advanced than those typical of one's era.

    “Many considered her ideas radical at the time, but she was ahead of her time.”

15. 15

    at the last minuteidiom/æt ðə ˈlɑːst ˈmɪnɪt/

    just before a deadline or just before something is due

    “I booked my flight at the last minute and it was expensive.”

16. 16

    bide one's timeidiom/baɪd wʌnz taɪm/

    to wait patiently for a good opportunity to do something

    “He decided to bide his time and watch the market before investing.”

17. 17

    call time onidiom/kɔːl taɪm ɒn/

    to decide to bring something to an end

    “After years of losses, the company called time on the unprofitable branch.”

18. 18

    kill timeidiom/kɪl taɪm/

    to do something unimportant to pass the time while waiting

    “I usually kill time by scrolling through news apps when I'm on a long commute.”

19. 19

    time on one's handsidiom/taɪm ɒn wʌnz hændz/

    to have spare time with nothing particular to do

    “During the summer holidays I had time on my hands, so I learned to cook.”

20. 20

    live on borrowed timeidiom/lɪv ɒn ˈbɒrəʊd taɪm/

    to continue to exist despite limited time left or despite danger

    “After the serious illness, he felt like he was living on borrowed time.”