10 Common Idioms with TIME

In this lesson, you will learn 10 common idioms with TIME that are often used in conversations. 


​AT TIMES 
Sometimes, but not often 

Examples: 

• Being a parent can be hard at times. (= sometimes) 
• At times even A students lose their motivation. (= students who always get A's for their work) 
• You're likely to feel stressed at times, especially in a job like this. 
• I love hanging out with friends, but at times, I just need to be by myself. (= alone) 

​AT ONE TIME 
When you talk about something related to a time in the past, but not now. 

Examples: 

• At one time, I wanted to study law, but now I'm not so sure. 
• At one time, my sister wanted to be a pharmacist, but it's a bit late now. 
• I was a teacher at one time, but then I decided to become a flight attendant, so I could travel the world for a few years before settling down. (settle down - to live a quieter way of life by getting married or living permanently in one place) 

​ALL THE TIME | THE WHOLE TIME 
When something happens continuously or very often.  

Examples: 

• My mum leaves the TV on all the time. 
• Stop complaining all the time - it's really annoying! 
• When my friend was sick, I was worried about her the whole time. 
• I keep practising speaking English and I'm improving all the time. 

When something happens during the whole of a particular period of time. 

• I was trying to find my library card in my wallet while it had been in my handbag all the time. 

AHEAD OF TIME 
Earlier than expected 

Examples: 

• I always prepare my lessons ahead of time. (= before teaching) 
• Sometimes our classes finish ahead of time. (= earlier than expected) 
• My flight landed fifty minutes ahead of time, so I had to wait for my mum to pick me up. 

Note: 'Ahead of time' is mainly used in American English. 


BEHIND TIME 
Later than expected 

Examples: ​

• The train left twenty minutes behind time. (= after it should have left) 
• The plane took off thirty minutes behind time. (= after it should have taken off) 

BEFORE MY TIME 
When something happened before you were born or before you started living somewhere. 

Examples: 

• This type of music was popular before my time. 
• They say he was a great singer but that was before my time. 
• I don't remember the fall of the Berlin Wall - it was before my time. 

BEHIND THE TIMES 
If someone or something is behind the times, they are old-fashioned. 

Examples: 

• My parents are a bit behind the times. (= old-fashioned in ideas and habits) 
• My grandparents are really behind the times - they don't even have a colour television. 
• When my friend got a new smartphone, mine was a bit behind the times. (mine = my phone) 
• I know my camera is behind the times but I can't afford a new one. 

​
TAKE TIME OUT 
To take a break from something; To spend time away from studying or working 

Examples: 

• You look tired. Why don't you take some time out? (= take a break) 
• I took time out after quitting my job to think about the next chapter of my life. 
• Some young adults prefer to take time out between high school and university. 
• I'm taking time out from my job to travel and live abroad for a year. 

​
IN NEXT TO NO TIME | IN NO TIME 
When you do something extremely quickly. 

Examples: 

• We fixed the problem in next to no time. 
• The holiday will be over in next to no time. 
• The test was so easy, I was done in next to no time. 
• The test was so easy, I was done in no time. 

FOR THE TIME BEING 
For a limited period or at this time 

Examples: 

• I'm quite happy at school for the time being. (= at the moment, but not permanently) 
• They've just moved to London and they're renting a flat for the time being. 
• They went on holiday and we're looking after their cat for the time being. (= at the moment, but this will change) 

Other lessons: 
6 Ways to Say that Something is Cheap 
6 Ways to Say that Something is Expensive 
Common Phrases in Spoken English (Part 1) 
Common Phrases in Spoken English (Part 2) 
Discourse Markers for IELTS Speaking and Everyday English 


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