When we say someone is trying to make up for lost time, it’s much like saying they’re “catching up” or “trying to recover lost time”. This phrase is used to describe situations where someone is trying to do something more quickly or work harder because they started late or because they wasted time earlier. It indicates an effort to achieve progress at a faster rate to compensate for the time that was previously lost.
Here are two examples in sentences:
Example 1:
After recovering from his illness, Paul decided to make up for lost time by studying twice as hard for his upcoming exams.
Example 2:
Martha started her project later than her classmates, so she had to make up for lost time by staying up late several nights in a row.
Now, let’s see this phrase used in conversations:
Example 3:
Jake: You’ve been working non-stop on your novel for days. What’s going on?
Amy: I took a break last week because I wasn’t feeling well. Now, I’m just trying to make up for lost time.
Example 4:
Sarah: Tom, you’ve been working out a lot lately.
Tom: Yes, I was lazy during the holidays. Now I’m trying to make up for lost time and get back in shape.
Remember, when you hear the phrase make up for lost time, it signifies a person’s efforts to catch up or recover the time they wasted or lost earlier. They’re trying to progress at a faster rate to offset the lost time.
