If something is happening ‘a mile a minute’, it is happening at a very fast rate. “Christopher, long time no see!” Idiom #25: A mile a minute This is informally used as a greeting to mean ‘it’s a long time since we last met’. “He’s spending money like there’s no tomorrow!” Idiom #24: Long time no see To do something ‘like there’s no tomorrow’ means to do it in a quick or careless way without considering the future. He’s a laugh a minute.” Idiom #23: Like there’s no tomorrow You could use this phrase to describe someone who is very funny. “Thank you so much for helping us in our hour of need.” Idiom #22: A laugh a minute “She hit the big time and got a part in a very successful film after years of hard work.”Īn ‘hour of need’ is a time when most help is needed. This is an idiomatic phrase which means to become very successful or famous. “In my free time, I like to play football.” ‘Free time’ refers to time available for hobbies and activities you enjoy. To ‘lose track of the time’ means to be unaware of how much time has passed, or to not be sure of what the time is. “I had a whale of a time learning to ski!” This means to have a brilliant time, to really enjoy oneself. “I like to reminisce while looking through old photo albums, but I do wish I could just turn back time.” To ‘turn back time’ means to recreate, remember, or imagine things as they were before. This is a colloquial term meaning to be in prison. This is an informal phrase which means exactly on time. If something happens ‘like clockwork’, then it happens very smoothly and easily. “We’ll go shopping at the airport to kill time before the flight.” This phrase is used informally and it means to spend time doing something unimportant, particularly when waiting for something. “A calculator can solve the Maths problem in the blink of an eye.” If something happens ‘in the blink of an eye’, it happens very quickly. “I’m too tired to finish my homework so I’m going to call it a day and finish it tomorrow.” This means to decide to stop doing something, either permanently or for a while depending on the context. If something is done ‘around the clock’, then it is done all day and all night without stopping. “I thought about running a marathon this year but I haven’t done any training so that ship has sailed.” We use this phrase informally to discuss an opportunity which has passed or a situation which can no longer be changed. “We almost missed the train but we got here in the nick of time.” To do something ‘in the nick of time’, means to do it just in time. “We didn’t get to see family much last year so this year, I hope to make up for lost time and spend lots of time with them.” To do something faster or more often in order to compensate for not having done it quickly enough or often enough before is known as ‘making up for lost time’. “I found that question really difficult but I remembered the answer at the eleventh hour, just before the exam finished.” If something happens ‘at the eleventh hour’, that means it happens at the last possible moment. If you enjoy this material and would like to take your English learning to the next level, join our Head English tutor, Anna English, on one of our English Language Courses. Below the list, you will find three quizzes, including a crossword to help embed your new idiom knowledge as well as a video of this lesson on common time idioms. This free English lesson has been made for your enjoyment and includes a list of 30 time idioms, the description of each idiom and idiom examples. Make the Most of this Free English Lesson! To throw someone under the bus means to place blame on them so that they get into trouble. ‘Throw him under a bus’ isn’t really appropriate for the workplace, for example. Idioms can be used for both formal and informal use, depending of course, on the specific phrase. Native English speakers use idioms a lot as part of both formal and informal language and therefore, correctly using idioms will help to portray you as a confident, natural speaker of English. So why are these confusing, but common sayings so important? Idioms are a common feature of the English language and it’s important for ESL learners to feel confident using them. ‘Over the moon’ is a famous idiom meaning extremely happy, but the literal meaning of the words suggests that you are in outer space! What are idioms and why are idioms important?īefore we start, let’s answer a common question – what is an idiom? An idiom is a common English saying where the meaning of the phrase isn’t related to the literal meaning of the words used.
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