Idioms Exercises: Idioms about Time

Fill in the blanks to form an idiom about time. The idioms used in this exercise are listed after the practice activity. It may be a good idea to study the list of idioms before trying the exercise.

Also see the Idioms Builder for practice with hundreds of idioms (including the idioms in this exercise).

Idioms about Time

Idioms to communicate urgency or a lack of time

race against the clock
A race against the clock is a situation in which something must be done very quickly.
now or never
Now or never communicates that something must be done now because there will not be another opportunity in the future.
there’s no time to lose
There’s no time to lose means that something must be started right away.
make up for lost time
To make up for lost time means to work hard/quickly to compensate for the fact that little progress has been made.
wait until the last minute
self-explanatory
pressed for time
Someone pressed for time doesn’t have much time due to responsibilities, tasks, etc.
the eleventh hour
At the eleventh hour means at the last minute.

Idioms to communicate a lack of urgency

put something on the back burner
If something has been put on the back burner, it has been suspended temporarily. This idiom is similar to put something on hold.
put something on hold
If something has been put on hold, it has been suspended temporarily. This idiom is similar to put something on the back burner.
for the time being
For the time being means for now.
all the time in the world
Someone with all the time in the world has an excessive amount of free time.
time to kill
Someone with time to kill has nothing urgent to do for a certain period of time.

Idioms to talk about a long stretch of time

Rome wasn’t built in a day
We say Rome wasn’t built in a day to communicate that great accomplishments take time.
in the long run
In the long run means over an extended period of time.
until the cows come home
Until the cows come home means for a very long time.
only time will tell
Only time will tell means that we can’t know now but we will find out in the future.
from day one
From day one means from the beginning.

Other Idioms about Time

long time, no see
We often say Long time, no see when we greet someone we haven’t seen in a long time.
a mile a minute
A mile a minute means very fast.
lose track of time
To lose track of time means to not realize how much time is passing.
crack of dawn
The crack of dawn means very early in the morning.
sooner or later
If something will happen sooner or later, it means that it will happen at an unspecific time in the future.
find the time
To find the time for something means to make time for a task or activity.
once in a blue moon
Once in a blue moon means very infrequently.
get with the times
To get with the times mean to do/think what other people are doing/thinking in the modern world.
spur of the moment
Something spur of the moment is spontaneous or unplanned.
better late than never
self explanatory
miss the boat
To miss the boat means to be too late to take advantage of an opportunity.
in the nick of time
In the nick of time communicates that something happened with little time to spare.
right place at the right time
self explanatory
days are numbered
If something’s (or someone’s) days are numbered, it means that it will not exist for much longer.
like clockwork
Something that happens like clockwork happens at regular, predictable times.
the time of one’s life
If someone had the time of their life, it means they had a really great time.
moment of truth
The moment of truth is a critical moment when something is put to the test.
Let’s call it a day/Why don’t we call it a day?
We can say Let’s call it a day (or Why don’t we call it a day?) to suggest that we stop working for the day.

Also see the Idioms Builder for practice with hundreds of idioms (including the idioms in this exercise).