11 time idioms and expressions | English Vocabulary Lesson Common British English Expressions

(gentle music)

- Hello, everyone,

and welcome back to English With Lucy.

Today, I have got lots of idioms relating to time.

It's a very important lesson.

I can't believe I haven't already covered this topic,

so grab a pen and paper and make sure you take notes.

Quickly, before we get started,

this video is going to help you with your speaking

and your listening and your reading and your writing.

It's gonna help with everything

because it's building your vocabulary,

but I know a lot of you want to improve

your listening, in particular, and your pronunciation.

I highly recommend listening to audiobooks

and reading the actual book at the same time.

It's like creating your own listening exercises.

Audible is offering one free audiobook

and a 30-day free trial.

You can sign up by clicking the link

in the description box.

Downnload the audiobook of your choice.

I've got lots of recommendations in the description box

for ones with British English narrators.

Listen to it as you multi-task

or you commute to work or whenever you like.

Or listen whilst reading the actual book.

That's the best thing you can do

for your listening and pronunciation

because you're hearing how the words are pronounced

as you are seeing them written down.

Just a little tip from me there.

Let's get on with the lesson.

Number one.

To be or not to be, that is the question.

No.

To be or not to be born yesterday.

If you are born yesterday, it means you are easily fooled

or very naive.

It's often used in a sarcastic, ironic way.

Do you think I was born yesterday?

Do you think I'm an idiot?

Or I wasn't born yesterday.

I'm not an idiot.

I don't believe you.

Number two.

Better late than never.

This one's kind of self-explanatory.

It means that doing something late

is better than not doing it at all,

but I mention it in this video

because it's also used in a sarcastic way.

I might say (scoffs) better late than never

if somebody is especially late.

Number three.

At the 11th hour.

At the 11th hour.

This means almost too late or at the last possible moment.

It's often used in business situations.

For example, we barely made the deadline.

I turned in my project at the 11th hour.

Number four.

To beat the clock.

To beat the clock.

This means to finish something before time is up

or before a deadline.

In game shows, the hosts will normally talk

about beating the clock, finishing the game

or the competition before time is up.

Number five.

It's high time.

It's high time means it's the right time

or actually past the appropriate time to do something.

For example, if I say it's high time we met

to talk about the issue, I'm trying to say

that it's actually past the appropriate time,

we should've met before,

and we really need to meet right now.

Number six.

I wonder if you've heard this one before

or if you've got an equivalent in your language.

Time flies, or time flies when you're having fun.

This means that time passes incredibly quickly.

And time flies when you're having fun

means time passes quickly when you're having a good time,

and that is so incredibly true.

Number seven.

Third time's a charm or third time lucky.

This means that the third time you do something,

it will usuall work.

It's normally said ironically

if you've had to repeatedly try something

and you've been failing each time.

(tongue clicks)

Third time's a charm.

Number eight.

In the long run.

In the long run means in the long term

or over a long period of time.

For example, studying English is hard,

but in the long run, it will be worth it.

Number nine.

In the nick of time.

This, like the 11th hour, means at the last possible moment,

at the latest possible moment.

For example, I made it to the bus in the nick of time.

I only just made it.

Number 10.

The ship has sailed.

This means that an opportunity has been missed.

I wanted to apply for the job, but the ship had sailed.

I missed the opportunity.

I ran out of time.

And the last one, in next to no time.

In next to no time.

And this means in almost no time at all.

In next to means almost,

so next to nothing means almost nothing.

Next to no time means almost no time at all.

For example, I arrived at the the club

and then next to no time, I was asked to leave.

(chuckles)

Right, that's it for today's lesson.

I hope you've learned something

and I hope you enjoyed it.

Don't forget to check out Audible.

You've got your free audiobook waiting there

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Click on the link and sign up.

And don't forget to connect with me

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and I've got my Twitter.

And I will see you soon for another lesson.

(lips smack)

(gentle music)