the sands of time
A poetic way of describing the passing of the years, especially as they slip away.
Example: The sands of time had softened even her sharpest memories.
C120 words · Advanced
Time & Frequency vocabulary — C1
Time and frequency idioms for describing pressure and deadlines, with phrases like time is of the essence, pressed for time and a stopgap.
20 questions
Words in this set
20time waits for no one
A saying warning that delay is costly, because the hours pass regardless of what anyone does.
Example:
Start today — time waits for no one.
a window of opportunity
A brief period during which something becomes possible, before the chance disappears.
Example:
There's a window of opportunity to apply before the deadline closes.
run out of time
To have no remaining opportunity to finish something before a deadline.
Example:
They ran out of time before completing the final question.
buy some time
To delay something on purpose in order to have longer to prepare or decide.
Example:
He asked for an extension just to buy some time.
time is of the essence
A formal way of saying that acting quickly is absolutely essential.
Example:
Please respond today — time is of the essence.
pressed for time
Having hardly any spare moment left, and in a hurry.
Example:
I can't chat now — I'm really pressed for time.
not before time
Said when something happens later than it should have, meaning it was overdue.
Example:
They finally fixed the road — not before time, if you ask me.
it's high time
Said to mean that something should happen now because it is already overdue.
Example:
It's high time we cleaned out this garage.
time on your hands
Having free hours available, often more than you actually need.
Example:
Since retiring, he's had a lot of time on his hands.
at a moment's notice
With no warning at all.
Example:
She can be on a plane at a moment's notice and often is.
on the spur of the moment
Suddenly, without any planning.
Example:
They bought the boat on the spur of the moment and regretted it.
a stopgap
A temporary solution until a proper one is found.
Example:
The portacabin was a stopgap and it stood for eleven years.
a stay of execution
A delay before something bad happens.
Example:
The grant bought a stay of execution and nothing more.
in hindsight
Looking back, knowing what happened afterwards.
Example:
In hindsight the warning signs were all in the first report.
ahead of schedule
Earlier than the time that was planned.
Example:
The whole build came in ahead of schedule for once.
the crack of dawn
Very early in the morning.
Example:
He is up at the crack of dawn whatever time he went to bed.
the witching hour
The middle of the night, when strange things happen.
Example:
The place is ordinary until the witching hour, they say.
a red-letter day
A day that is special and memorable.
Example:
The opening was a red-letter day for the whole village.
in the interim
In the period between two events.
Example:
In the interim the office was run by whoever turned up.
