Idioms

(and) about time (too) | (and) not before time

1. used to say that something should have happened before now早该发生；早该如此

against time

1. if you do something against time, you do it as fast as you can because you do not have much time争分夺秒；抢时间
   • They're working against time to try and get people out of the rubble alive.他们正在争分夺秒，设法把人们从瓦砾中活着救出来。

ahead of/behind time

1. earlier/later than was expected提前；拖后
   • We finished 15 minutes ahead of time.我们提前 15 分钟完成。
   • The plane took off an hour behind time.飞机晚点一个小时才起飞。

ahead of your time

1. having advanced or new ideas that other people use or copy later超越时代的；有超前意识的；具有前瞻性的

all the time | the whole time

1.  
   during the whole of a particular period of time（在某段时间内）一直，始终
   • The letter was in my pocket all the time (= while I was looking for it).这信一直就在我的口袋里。
   Topics Timea2
2.  
   very often; repeatedly经常；总是；老是
   • She leaves the lights on all the time.她总是让灯亮着。
   Topics Timea2

at all times

1. always总是；随时；永远
   • Our representatives are ready to help you at all times.我们的代表随时准备帮助你。
   • Hot water is available at all times.随时都有热水。

at the best of times

1. even when the circumstances are very good即使在最好的情况下
   • He's never very happy at the best of times—he'll be much worse now!他即使在处境最好的时候也从未很高兴过，现在就更糟了！

at the same time

1. at one time; together同时；一起
   • She was laughing and crying at the same time.她又哭又笑。
2. used to introduce a fact that is different and must be considered（用以引出必须予以考虑的相对情况）同时，也，然而，不过
   • You have to be firm, but at the same time you should try and be sympathetic.你必须要严格，不过也应尽量怀有同情心。

at a time

1. separately or in groups of two, three, etc. on each occasion每次；逐一；依次
   • We had to go and see the principal one at a time.我们得逐一去见校长。
   • She ran up the stairs two at a time.她一步两阶地跑上楼梯。
   • He surfs the internet for hours at a time.他一次在网上待好几个小时。

at my, your, his, etc. time of life

1. at the age you are (especially when you are not young)在…这样的年纪（尤指不年轻时）
   • Eyesight doesn't get any better at my time of life.到我这把年纪，视力绝不会变好的。

at times

 

1. sometimes有时；间或
   • He can be really bad-tempered at times.他有的时候脾气可真坏。
   • The rain will become heavy at times in the afternoon.下午有时会下大雨。
   • He can be rather moody at times.他有时候相当情绪化。

beat time (to something)

1. to mark or follow the rhythm of music, by waving a stick, tapping your foot (= hitting it against the floor), etc.（随着音乐）打拍子
   • She beat time with her fingers.她用手指打拍子。

before my, your, his, etc. time

1. happening before you were born or can remember or before you lived, worked, etc. somewhere在…出生（或记事、在世、工作等）之前
   • ‘Were you taught by Professor Pascal?’ ‘No, he was before my time.’“帕斯卡尔教授教过你吗？” “没有，他教书时我还没有入校呢。”
2. before the usual time in somebody’s life when something happens过早；提前 synonym prematurely
   • She got old before her time.她过早地衰老了。

behind the times

1. old-fashioned in your ideas, methods, etc.（思想、方法等）落伍，过时，陈旧

be in the right place at the right time

1. to be able to take advantage of opportunities when they come同时；一起
   • His success was down to being in the right place at the right time.他的成功之处就在于把握住了时机。

be (living) on borrowed time

1. to still be alive after the time when you were expected to die活过寿限；大限已近
   • He’s been living on borrowed time ever since his last heart attack.自从上次心脏病发作以来，他一直靠借来的时间生活。
2. to be doing something that other people are likely to soon stop you from doing做很快就会遭到制止的事；好景不长
   • According to the latest opinion polls, the government is living on borrowed time.根据最新的民意调查，政府靠借来的时间生活。

better luck next time

1. (informal) used to encourage somebody who has not been successful at something（鼓励未成功的人）祝下次好运
   • Never mind— better luck next time.没关系，祝你下次好运。
   • If you didn't win a prize, better luck next time.如果没获奖，愿你下次好运。
   Topics Successc1

bide your time

1. to wait for the right time to do something等待时机
   • He decided to bide his time until he got an opportunity to talk to her alone.他决定等待时机，直到有机会单独和她谈谈。

buy time

1. to do something in order to delay an event, a decision, etc.拖延时间
   • The negotiators kept the gunman talking to buy time for the hostages.谈判者不断让持枪歹徒说话，以便为人质争取时间。

call time (on something)

1. (British English) to say or decide that it is time for something to finish宣布结束；决定结束

a devil of a job/time

1. (old-fashioned) a very difficult or unpleasant job or time费力（或令人讨厌）的事；难熬（或令人不快）的日子
   • I've had a devil of a job finding you.我费了九牛二虎之力才找到你。

do time

1. (informal) to spend time in prison坐牢；蹲监狱Topics Crime and punishmentc2

every time

1. whenever there is a choice无论何时；一有机会
   • I don't really like cities—give me the countryside every time.我真不太喜欢城市，一有机会就让我去乡村吧。

for old times’ sake

1. if you do something for old times’ sake, you do it because it is connected with something good that happened to you in the past看在旧日的情分上；念及老交情

for the time being

1. for a short period of time but not permanently暂时；眼下
   • You can leave your suitcase here for the time being.你可以暂时把衣箱留在这儿。
   Topics Timec1

from that time/day forth

1. (literary) beginning on that day; from that time从那天起；从那时以后
   • From that time forth she gave me endless friendship and encouragement.从那时起，她给了我无尽的友谊和鼓励。
   Topics Timec2

from time to time

1. occasionally but not regularly不时；有时；偶尔；间或
   • She has to work at weekends from time to time.她偶尔周末还得工作。
   Topics Timec1

gain time

1. to delay something so that you can have more time to make a decision, deal with a problem, etc.（通过拖延）赢得时间

give somebody a hard time

1. to deliberately make a situation difficult and unpleasant for somebody给某人找茬儿；使某人不好过
   • They really gave me a hard time at the interview.面试时他们确实是在难为我。

give me something/somebody (any day/time)

1. (informal) used to say that you prefer a particular thing or person to the one that has just been mentioned我宁愿；我更喜欢；我宁可选择
   • We don't go out much. Give me a quiet night in front of the TV any day!我们不常出去。我宁愿坐在电视机前安安静静地过一夜！
   Topics Preferences and decisionsc2

have an easy time (of it)

1. to have no difficulties or problems日子好过；过得舒适；毫无困难
   • He’s had an easy time of it since he married Lucy.自从和露西结婚后，他过得很轻松。

have a high old time

1. (old-fashioned, informal) to enjoy yourself very much过得很快乐；玩得痛快

have a lot of time for somebody/something

1. (informal, especially British English) to like and be interested in somebody/something喜欢；对…感兴趣；愿意为…花时间
   • I've always had a lot of time for Mary.我总是有很多时间陪玛丽。
   Topics Preferences and decisionsc2

have no time for somebody/something | not have much time for somebody/something

1. (informal) to dislike somebody/something不喜欢；讨厌；不愿为…花时间
   • I have no time for lazy people like Steve.我讨厌像史蒂夫这样的懒汉。
   Topics Preferences and decisionsc2

have a thin time (of it)

1. (British English, informal) to have many problems or difficulties to deal with; to not be successful遇到许多麻烦；过得不顺
   • He’s had a thin time of it since losing his job.自从失业以来，他日子过得很不好。
   Topics Difficulty and failurec2

have the time of your life

1. (informal) to enjoy yourself very much过得很快乐；玩得痛快

have time on your hands | have time to kill

1. (informal) to have nothing to do or not be busy无所事事；没事可干；闲着

have a whale of a time

1. (informal) to enjoy yourself very much; to have a very good time玩得很痛快；过得非常快活
   • The kids had a whale of a time at the theme park.孩子们在主题公园玩得很开心。

in the course of time

1. when enough time has passed总有一天；最后；终于 synonym eventually
   • It is possible that in the course of time a cure for cancer will be found.治疗癌症的方法终有一天能找到。
   • In the course of time, I began to understand.终于我开始明白了。

in the fullness of time

1. when the time is appropriate, usually after a long period在适当时候，时机成熟时（尤指久待之后）
   • I have no doubt that she’ll tell us in the fullness of time.我毫不怀疑她会在适当的时候告诉我们。

in good time

1. early; with enough time so that you are not in a hurry及早；有足够的时间
   • Get to the airport in good time.早早到机场。
   Topics Timec1

(all) in good time

1. (informal) used to say that something will be done or will happen at the appropriate time and not before会按时做（或出现）；不消多久
   • Be patient, Emily! All in good time.埃米莉，别急！快好了。

in the nick of time

1. (informal) at the very last moment; just before something bad happens, so that you manage to avoid it, but only just在最后一刻；紧要关头；恰是时候
   • They escaped from the smoke-filled house just in the nick of time.他们正好在紧要关头从烟雾弥漫的房子里逃了出来。

in (less than/next to) no time

1. so soon or so quickly that it is surprising短暂（或快）得令人吃惊；立刻；马上；一会儿
   • The kids will be leaving home in no time.孩子们很快就要离开家了。

in olden times

(also in the olden days)

1. a long time ago in the past顺应时代；顺应潮流
   • In olden times people would gather in town squares to gossip and exchange stories.在古代，人们会聚集在城镇的广场上闲聊和交换故事。

in your own sweet time/way

1. how and when you want to, even though this might annoy other people任凭自己的意愿
   • He always does the work, but in his own sweet time.工作他总是在做，但只在自己高兴的时候做。
   • She just ignores all the criticism and continues on her own sweet way.她只是无视所有的批评，继续她自己甜蜜的方式。

in your own (good) time

1. (informal) when you are ready and not sooner在准备停当时
   • Don't hassle him! He'll do it in his own good time.别唠唠叨叨地烦他了！他准备好时就会做的。

in your own time

1. in your free time and not when you usually work or study在业余时间；在空闲时

in time

1. after a period of time when a situation has changed经过一段时间之后；迟早；最后；终于 synonym eventually
   • They learned to accept their stepmother in time.过了一段时间之后他们学着接受他们的继母。
   • You'll get used to the work in time.你迟早会适应这份工作的。
   Topics Timec2

in time (for something/to do something)

 

1. not late; with enough time to be able to do something来得及；及时
   • Will we be in time for the six o'clock train?我们来得及赶上六点钟的那趟火车吗？
   • The ambulance got there just in time (= to save somebody's life).救护车及时赶到那里。
   Topics Timeb1

it’s about/high time

1. (informal) used to say that you think somebody should do something soon差不多／现在是…的时候了
   • It's about time you cleaned your room!你该打扫自己的房间了！

it’s just/only a matter of time (before…)

1. used to say that something will definitely happen, although you are not sure when早晚的事；只是时间问题
   • It's only a matter of time before they bring out their own version of the software.他们推出自己的软件只是个时间问题。
   Topics Doubt, guessing and certaintyc1

keep up/move with the times

1. to change and develop your ideas, way of working, etc. so that you do what is modern and what is expected跟上时代；跟着潮流
   • Many complained that the Royal Family had failed to move with the times.很多人抱怨皇室没能与时俱进。

kill time | kill an hour, a couple of hours, etc.

1. to spend time doing something that is not important while you are waiting for something else to happen（等待时）消磨时间，打发时光
   • We killed time playing cards.我们打纸牌消磨时间。

long time no see

1. (informal) used to say hello to somebody you have not seen for a long time好久不见了

make good, etc. time

1. to complete a journey quickly在路上花的时间很短
   • We made excellent time and arrived in Spain in two days.我们一路很顺当，两天后就到了西班牙。

make up for lost time

1. to do something quickly or very often because you wish you had started doing it sooner（加快或加紧做某事以）弥补失去的时间
   • I’ll have to work hard now to make up for lost time.我现在必须努力工作来弥补失去的时间。

many a time | many’s the time (that)…

1. (old-fashioned) many times; frequently多次；常常；屡屡

mark time

1. to pass the time while you wait for something more interesting等待时机
   • I'm just marking time in this job—I'm hoping to get into journalism.我干这件工作只是在等待时机，我希望能从事新闻工作。
2. (of soldiers士兵) to make marching movements without moving forwards原地踏步

(the) next, first, second, etc. time round

1. on the next, first, etc. occasion that the same thing happens同样的事情下次（或第一次等）发生时
   • He repeated none of the errors he'd made first time round.他没有重复过首次所犯下的任何错误。
   • This time round it was not so easy.这一次这事可就不那么容易了。

nine times out of ten | ninety-nine times out of a hundred

1. used to say that something is usually true or almost always happens十有八九；几乎总是
   • Nine times out of ten she gives the right answer.她的答案十有八九是对的。

ninety-nine times out of a hundred

1. almost always总是；随时；永远

(and) not before time | (and) about time (too)

1. used to say that something should have happened before now早该发生；早该如此

not give somebody the time of day

1. to refuse to speak to somebody because you do not like or respect them对某人厌弃不睬
   • Since the success of her novel, people shake her hand who once wouldn't have given her the time of day.自从她的小说获得成功之后，曾经懒得答理她的人也跟她握起手来。

(there is) no time like the present

1. (saying) now is the best time to do something, not in the future现在是做…的最佳时机；现在不做更待何时

of all time

1. that has ever existed自古以来；有史以来；从未有过
   • Many rated him the best singer of all time.许多人认为他是有史以来最优秀的歌手。
   see also all-time

once upon a time

1. used, especially at the beginning of stories, to mean ‘a long time ago in the past’（用于故事的开头）从前，很久以前
   • Once upon a time there was a beautiful princess.从前，有一位美丽的公主。

on time

1. at the arranged or correct time; not late为…安排时间；选择…的时机
   • The train arrived right on time.火车准点到达。
   Topics Timea2

pass the time of day (with somebody)

1. to say hello to somebody and have a short conversation with them（与某人）寒暄，打招呼，闲谈一会儿

play for time

1. to find or create reasons why something has to be delayed, often so you have longer to prepare for it 喜欢；对…感兴趣；愿意为…花时间
   • His legal team, clearly playing for time, sought to have the case heard a month later.他的法律团队显然在拖延时间，试图在一个月后审理此案。

a race against time/the clock

1. a situation in which you have to do something or finish something very fast before it is too late和时间赛跑；抢时间；争分夺秒
   • Getting food to the starving refugees is now a race against time.给饥饿的难民送食物现在是与时间赛跑。

a sign of the times

1. something that you feel shows what things are like now, especially how bad they are时代特征（含贬义）
   • The increasing number of people owning guns is an alarming sign of the times.拥有枪支的人越来越多，这是一个令人担忧的时代标志。

a stitch in time (saves nine)

1. (saying) it is better to deal with something immediately because if you wait it may become worse or more difficult and cause extra work及时缝一针能省九针；小洞及时补，免遭大洞苦

take it/things one day at a time

1. (informal) to not think about what will happen in the future得过且过；做一天和尚撞一天钟；过一天算一天
   • I don't know if he'll get better. We're just taking it one day at a time.我不知道他还能不能好转，我们只有过一天算一天。

take your time (over something) | take your time to do something/doing something

1. to use as much time as you need without hurrying从容不迫；慢慢来
   • There's no rush—take your time.别着急，慢慢来。
2. used to say you think somebody is late or is too slow in doing something迟到；慢慢腾腾；磨磨蹭蹭
   • You certainly took your time getting here!你真是姗姗来迟啊！

take time out

1. to spend some time away from your usual work or activity in order to rest or do something else instead抽出时间（暂停工作或活动）；忙里偷闲
   • She is taking time out from her music career for a year.她将抽出一年的时间，暂不从事音乐事业。
   Synonyms restrest

   • break
   • respite
   • time out
   • breathing space

   These are all words for a short period of time spent relaxing.

   • rest a period of relaxing, sleeping or doing nothing after a period of activity:
     • We stopped for a well-earned rest.我们停下来作个应有的休息。
   • break a short period of time when you stop what you are doing and rest or eat:
     • Let’s take a break.咱们休息会儿吧。
     In British English break is a period of time between lessons at school. The North American English word is recess.
   • respite a short break from something difficult or unpleasant:
     • The drug brought a brief respite from the pain.药物暂时缓解了疼痛。
   • time out (especially North American English, informal) time for resting or relaxing away from your usual work or studies:
     • Take time out to relax by the pool.去游泳池边歇一歇吧。
   • breathing space a short rest in the middle of a period of mental or physical effort:
     • This delay gives the party a breathing space in which to sort out its policies.这一延误使该党有了喘息之机来厘定其政策。

   Patterns

   • (a) rest/​break/​respite/​time out from something
   • to have/​take (a) rest/​break/​time out
   • to give somebody (a) rest/​break/​respite/​breathing space

there’s a first time for everything

1. (saying, humorous) the fact that something has not happened before does not mean that it will never happen没有发生的事情并不意味着永远不会发生；什么事情都有第一次

third time lucky

(US English third time is the charm)

1. used when you have failed to do something twice and hope that you will succeed the third time（但愿）第三次交好运；过一过二不过三Topics Successc2

time after time | time and (time) again

1. often; on many or all occasions一次又一次；一再；屡屡；总是
   • You will get a perfect result time after time if you follow these instructions.如果你遵循这些用法说明，每次都会得到最佳的效果。
   • Time and again, the girls have shown how strong and determined they can be.一次又一次，女孩们展示了她们有多坚强和决心。
   Topics Timeb2

time and a half

1. one and a half times the usual rate of pay通常工资的一倍半
   • We get time and a half on Sundays.星期天我们有一个半小时的时间。
   see also double time

time flies

1. (saying) time seems to pass very quickly时间过得真快；光阴似箭；时光飞逝
   • How time flies! I've got to go now.时间过得真快！现在我得走了。
   • Time has flown since the holiday began.假日一开始，时间就过得飞快。

time is money

1. (saying) time is valuable, and should not be wasted时间就是金钱；一寸光阴一寸金

time is on your side

1. used to say that somebody can wait for something to happen or can wait before doing something有的是时间（等待某事发生或做某事）

time was (when)…

1. (old-fashioned) used to say that something used to happen in the past曾经有那么个时候…；那年头…
   • Time was when you could go for a walk in the country and not see another person for miles.过去你可以在乡间散步走上好几英里也看不到一个人。
   • Time was when we never needed to lock our house at night.以前我们晚上从来不需要锁门。

time (alone) will tell | only time will tell

1. (saying) used to say that you will have to wait for some time to find out the result of a situation（只有）时间会证明
   • Only time will tell if the treatment has been successful.只有时间才能证明这种疗法是否成功。

the whole time | all the time

1. during the whole of a particular period of time（在某段时间内）一直，始终
   • My keys were in my pocket the whole time (= while I was looking for them).我的钥匙一直在口袋里。
2. very often; repeatedly经常；总是；老是
   • He drums his fingers on the table the whole time—it's very annoying.他一直用手指敲桌子——这很烦人。