General Expressions:
1. Make time – To find the time to do something.
2. Kill time – To do something to pass the time while waiting.
3. Save time – To do something more quickly or efficiently.
4. Lose track of time – To become so engrossed in something that you forget the time.
5. Spend time – To use your time doing something.
6. Take your time – To do something at your own pace without rushing.
7. Run out of time – To have no time left to complete something.
8. Waste time – To use time ineffectively or unproductively.
9. Bide your time – To wait patiently for the right opportunity.
10. Stand the test of time – To last or remain relevant over a long period.
Specific Idioms:
11. Time flies – Time seems to pass very quickly.
12. Time is money – Time is valuable and shouldn’t be wasted.
13. Behind the times – Not modern; old-fashioned.
14. Ahead of your time – Innovative or advanced for your era.
15. Pressed for time – In a hurry or short on time.
16. All in good time – Something will happen when the time is right.
17. Big time – To a large extent or on a grand scale (e.g., "He succeeded big time").
18. A race against time – A situation where something must be done quickly.
19. Time after time – Repeatedly; again and again.
20.Out of time – No more time available.
Miscellaneous:
21. Once upon a time – Used to start a story about the past.
22. At the same time – Simultaneously.
23. Just in time – At the last possible moment.
24. In the nick of time – At the very last moment before it’s too late.
25. Borrowed time – Living longer than expected or surviving against odds.
PRACTICE
1) Match the idiom on the left with its correct meaning on the right.
2) Complete each sentence with the appropriate idiom. Use context clues to help.
1. I always try to _______ in my schedule to read a few pages of my favourite book every night.
2. We’re _______ to catch our flight—we need to leave now!
3. While waiting for the doctor, I played a mobile game to _______.
4. That historic building has _______; it’s still in perfect condition after 100 years.
5. It’s okay, you can _______ on the test; there’s no rush to finish quickly.
6. I was so focused on the movie that I completely _______ and missed my meeting.
7. He missed the deadline because he _______ on unimportant tasks.
8. They had to act fast—it was truly a _______ to save the injured hiker.
3) Use the following idioms to create original sentences that show their meaning in context.
1. Time flies
2. Behind the times
3. In the nick of time
4. A race against time
5. Just in time
SPEAKING
LISTEN https://voca.ro/1frkIXRxn22F
Listen to or read the questions below and try to answer. In order to check your answers, you can record your answer and send it to me. You can also write your answers to the comments section below. All the questions have one time idiom or expression.
1. How do you usually make time for hobbies or activities you enjoy? What strategies help you balance your schedule?
2. Can you share an experience when you lost track of time while doing something? What was it, and why did it engross you so much?
3. Which traditions will stand the test of time? Why do you believe they will remain relevant?
4. How do you handle situations when you’re pressed for time? Do you thrive under pressure, or does it stress you out?
5. Have you ever felt like time flew by during a specific phase of your life? What made it seem so quick?
6. What activities do you think are a waste of time, and how do you avoid them? Do you think some "wasted time" is necessary for relaxation or creativity?
KEY:
1) 1B, 2A, 3E, 4F, 5D, 6I, 7C, 8H, 9G, 10J
3) Possible answers.
1. Time flies - Time flies when you’re having fun; I can’t believe the day is over already!
2. Behind the times - My grandfather is a bit behind the times; he still uses a flip phone.
3. In the nick of time - We made it to the airport in the nick of time and barely caught our flight.
4. A race against time - Rescuing the trapped miners was a race against time as the oxygen levels dropped.
5. Just in time - I arrived just in time to see the final minutes of the game.
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