Idiom Category: Time, Page 2

Not born yesterday

When someone says that they weren't born yesterday, they mean that they are not naive or easily fooled.

Not give the time of day

If you wouldn't give the time of day to someone, you dislike them so much that you would not even use common courtesy.

Now and then

This idiom means 'occasionally'.

On my watch

If someoething happens on your watch, you are responsible for it as you were in charge.

On the stroke

If you arrive somewhere on the stroke of 2 o'clock, you arrive at exactly that time.(At the stroke is also used.)

One-man band

If one person does all the work or has all the responsibility somewhere, then they are a one-man band.

Open all hours

If a shop or suchlike is open all hours, it only closes, if at all, terribly late.

Pass the time of day

If you pass the time of day with somebody, you stop and say hello, enquire how they are and other such acts of social politeness.

Play for time

If you play for time, you delay something because because you are not ready or need more time to thing about it.  Eg. I knew I had to play for time until the police arrived.

Pressed for time

If you are pressed for time, you are in a hurry or working against a very tight schedule.

Question of time

If something's a question of time, it's certain to happen, though we don't know exactly when.

Rough patch

A rough patch is a difficult or trying period.

Rue the day

This means that the person will one day bitterly regret what they have done.

Senior moment

A memory lapse or a momentary confusion in someone who is no longer young is a senior moment.

Since time immemorial

If something has happened since time immemorial, it's been going on for such a long time that nobody can remember a time without it.

Small-time

If a person or a thing is called 'small-time' it means they're inconsequential, not worth much, don't play in the 'big leagues', as in 'a small-time operator'.

Some other time

If somebody says they'll do something some other time, they mean at some indefinite time in the future, possibly never, but they certainly don't want to feel obliged to fix a specific time or date.

Spur of the moment

If you do something on the spur of the moment, you do it because you felt like it at that time, without any planning or preparation.

Stand the test of time

If something like a work of art stands the test of time, it is appreciated forever.

Stitch in time saves nine

A stitch in time saves nine 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 requires stitching.

Stop a clock

A face that could (or would) stop a clock is very ugly indeed.

Strange at the best of times

To describe someone or something as really weird or unpleasant in a mild way.

Stroll down memory lane

If you take a stroll down memory lane, you talk about the past or revisit places that were important to you in the past. (You can also 'take a trip down memory lane'.)

The sands of time

The sands of time is an idiom meaning that time runs out either through something reaching an end or through a person's death. It comes from the sand used in hourglasses, an ancient way of measuring time.

Third time's the charm

This is used when the third time one tries something, one achieves a successful outcome.

Time and again

If something happens time and again, it happens repeatedly. ('Time and time again' is also used.)

Time and tide wait for no man

This is used as a way of suggestion that people should act without delay.

Time does sail

This idioms means that time passes by unnoticed.

Time flies

This idiom means that time moves quickly and often unnoticed.

Time is on my side

If time is on your side, you have the luxury of not having to worry about how long something will take.

Time of your life

If you're having the time of your life, you are enjoying yourself very much indeed.

Time out of mind

This is the very distant past- so far back that no one can remember when, like time immemorial.

Time-honoured practice

A time-honoured practice is a traditional way of doing something that has become almost universally accepted as the most appropriate or suitable way.

To the end of time

To the end of time is an extravagant way of saying 'forever'.

Tomorrow's another day

This means that things might turn out better or that there might be another opportunity in the future.

Wee hours

Wee hours are the first hours after midnight.

Zero hour

The time when something important is to begin is zero hour.

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