Time. It’s the invisible thread that weaves our lives together. In English, we talk about it in so many different ways. Ever wondered why we say ‘waste time’ and not ‘lose time’, or why we ‘spend time’ just like we ‘spend money’? That’s because time, in the realm of English language, comes with its own set of collocations, specific combinations of words that just sound “right” together. Why do you need to learn them? Well, they make your English sound more natural and fluent, just like a native speaker! Imagine telling your friend, “I completely squandered my time watching that movie,” instead of saying, “I wasted my time.” Sounds impressive, doesn’t it?
Now, let’s dive right into a list of 37 handy collocations related to time, to help you express yourself more eloquently.
1. Waste time: Spend time in a pointless manner.
Example: I wasted time watching a boring movie.
2. Save time: Make things quicker in order to use less time.
Example: Cooking meals in advance can save time during the week.
3. Spend time: Use your time doing something.
Example: I like to spend time reading before bed.
4. Kill time: Do something to make time pass more quickly.
Example: I read a magazine to kill time at the doctor’s office.
5. Pass time: Allow time to go by.
Example: Painting is a fun way to pass time.
6. Invest time: Spend time doing something that you believe is worthwhile.
Example: She invests a lot of time in her studies.
7. Gain time: Get extra time.
Example: Waking up early allows me to gain time for a morning jog.
8. Run out of time: Have no time left.
Example: I ran out of time and couldn’t finish the test.
9. Take your time: Do something slowly, without rushing.
Example: There’s no rush—take your time.
10. Make up for lost time: Try to do as much as possible because you did not do as much as you should have earlier.
Example: After recovering from an injury, he was exercising vigorously to make up for lost time.
11. Stand the test of time: Last or remain popular for a long time.
Example: Shakespeare’s works have stood the test of time.
12. From time to time: Sometimes but not regularly.
Example: From time to time, we go for a hike in the mountains.
13. Have the time of your life: Enjoy yourself very much.
Example: We had the time of our lives on our trip to Europe.
14. High time: The appropriate or urgent time.
Example: It’s high time we cleaned the garage.
15. In the nick of time: Just in time, at the last possible moment.
Example: I got to the train station in the nick of time.
16. Kill two birds with one stone: Solve two problems at once.
Example: By reading on the bus, I can enjoy my book and make good use of the travel time.
17. Once in a blue moon: Very rarely.
Example: I only see my old college friends once in a blue moon.
18. Beat the clock: Finish a task before the allotted time is up.
Example: The team managed to beat the clock and finish the project ahead of schedule.
19. Turn back the hands of time: Return to the past.
Example: If I could turn back the hands of time, I would have studied harder.
20. Time flies: Time passes quickly.
Example: I can’t believe it’s already December—time flies!
21. In due time: Eventually, at an appropriate time.
Example: In due time, you’ll understand why this decision was made.
22. The sands of time: The passage of time.
Example: The sands of time have transformed the small town into a bustling city.
23. For old times’ sake: Because of affection or fond memories from the past.
Example: Let’s visit our old school for old times’ sake.
24. A whale of a time: A great time.
Example: We had a whale of a time at the beach party.
25. On borrowed time: An extended period of uncertainty or a reprieve, especially in a life-threatening situation.
Example: After the diagnosis, he knew he was living on borrowed time.
26. A race against time: Trying to do something before a deadline.
Example: It was a race against time to complete the assignment before midnight.
27. Time is money: Time is a valuable resource.
Example: As a freelancer, I’ve learned that time is money.
28. The time of one’s life: An extremely enjoyable experience.
Example: The summer vacation in Greece was the time of my life.
29. Time on one’s hands: Free time.
Example: With so much time on my hands, I took up painting.
30. Time heals all wounds: Emotional pain lessens over time.
Example: After a heartbreak, remember that time heals all wounds.
31. Turn the tide: Change the course of events.
Example: Their last-minute goal turned the tide of the match.
32. A question of time: Something that will definitely happen but the exact timing is uncertain.
Example: It’s just a question of time before they announce their engagement.
33. Time stands still: Time seems to stop.
Example: When I saw her walking down the aisle, time stood still.
34. Lose track of time: Not be aware of what time it is.
Example: I was so engrossed in the book that I lost track of time.
35. In the fullness of time: Eventually.
Example: In the fullness of time, you’ll see the fruits of your labor.
36. Crunch time: The period when pressure to succeed is greatest; often towards the end of an undertaking.
Example: It’s crunch time for students as final exams approach.
37. The big time: The highest level in any professional activity.
Example: After years of hard work, the band has finally hit the big time.
The beauty of learning collocations is that they add a pinch of “native speaker” flair to your English. The more you use them, the more automatic they become. So, next time you’re stuck for words, remember this list and let the collocations do the talking!
