Learn 10 Time Expressions in English

Hi. I'm Rebecca from engVid. In this lesson, you will learn ten idioms of

time. So, these expressions are used in all kinds of situations, whether they're

general, whether they're social situations or business contexts; you

might hear them anywhere. So, it is very useful to be able to understand them,

first of all — that's the most important thing you want to be able to do when you

learn idioms; and then when you're really sure of the meaning and how to

use them, you can also start to use them yourself. Okay? So, let's look at what

they are. So, the first one: "in a heartbeat". Let me give you an example.

"Life can change in a heartbeat." So, what do you think that means? It means

life can change immediately; instantly. For example, right now, you decided to

watch this video, instead of doing something else. You decided to improve

your English in a heartbeat. Okay? You can make that decision in a heartbeat.

Just like a heart, beats fast, right? Beats very quickly; not necessarily

fast, but quickly. In the same way, this expression means quickly; instantly. All

right? Next, let's look at the next one. Number two: "around the clock". I'll

give you a sentence; see if you understand. "They deliver pizza around

the clock." Okay? What do you think that means? "Around the clock". So, it means

24 hours a day. Okay? They deliver pizza at any time of the day or night; "around

the clock". All right? That's the meaning of "around the clock" -- 24

hours a day. Good.

"As we speak" — let me give you an example. "They are signing the deal as

we speak. They're negotiating the deal as we speak." So, what do you think that

means: "as we speak"? It means right now. Right now, as I'm talking to you,

this is happening somewhere. So, "as we speak" means right now, at this moment.

Usually it's talking about something that's happening somewhere else, while

you are in one place. Okay? So, for example: "They're signing the deal as we

speak." That means: As we are speaking, they are doing that right now. Okay?

Let's look at number four: "against the clock". Okay. "We are working against

the clock to finish this presentation." All right? What do you think that means?

And look at the way that I'm speaking; there's a little bit of anxiety here,

right? So, when you're "working against the clock", you have a deadline, and

you're trying to finish something before that deadline; before that time limit.

Okay? So, you're working against the clock; you're working really hard to

finish something because you have a deadline, and you have to finish by that

time. All right? Let's say you have to get in an application by a certain time,

or you have to finish your presentation by a certain time because you're meeting

your client in the morning. So, you're working really hard, and you're working

against the clock. You don't have enough time; you wish you had more time, but

you're working against the clock. It means you're working to a deadline. All

right. And "at the eleventh hour" or "the eleventh hour". So, let's say...

let's take this example forward, let's say you were working against the clock

all night long in order to finish your application or your presentation, and

then finally at the eleventh hour, you finished everything. Okay? So, what does

that mean: "at the eleventh hour"? Means, like, just before the deadline.

Okay? At the last minute. That's the meaning of "the eleventh hour", okay? At

the last minute, or just before the deadline; just before the time limit. "I

finished it at the eleventh hour." Okay? Or you could say, for example... Some

students wait to study at the eleventh hour before an exam. They don't study

all through the year; they wait till the eleventh hour to study really hard and

crazy. Not recommended. Okay? But it means they wait, like, till the very

end.

So, let's review these first five. Okay? So, if I want to say that something's

happening right now, I'm talking to you and something's happening — so which one

is that? Number three, right. "As we speak". "It's happening as we speak."

And suppose you say: "Things can change just like that." Which one is that?

"Things can change in a heartbeat." Good. And if you want to say that... if

you managed to finish something at the last minute, you could say: "I finished

it at the eleventh hour." Okay? And suppose you want to order pizza, so

you're going to... but it's like three o'clock in the morning, so you're

looking for a restaurant that delivers at any time; that delivers "around the

clock". Right? Good. And let's say you're under pressure to finish

something before a deadline, so you are working "against the clock"; number

four. Okay? Now, the way to remember these is to apply them; not just to

listen, which is good. You could also note down... lots of our viewers are

actually writing these down and making their own notes, making their own

sentences, making their own examples — that's the best thing you can do. Apply

it to your life. Think about a time when you were working against the clock,

think about a situation, or a restaurant, or something in your

neighbourhood that's open around the clock; things like that. Apply it. Apply

it to your life, apply it to the life of people you know to make it your own, so

you really understand it. Okay? Let's go on.

Number six: "He woke up at the crack of dawn." Okay? "He woke up at the crack of

dawn to study before his exam." Any idea? So, for that, you need to know

what the word "dawn" means. So, "dawn" is when the sun is just starting to

appear. Okay? It's very, very early morning. So, "he woke up at the crack of

dawn" means very early in the morning; like, maybe — I don't know — four

o'clock, five o'clock, whatever it is. Okay? It just means very early in the

morning. Let's look at the next one. Are you with me? Good, good. Number seven:

"ahead of time". Okay. "He always arrives ahead of time before an exam.

She always appeared... arrived ahead of time before an interview." What do you

think it means? "Ahead of time" means before the required time. She

required... arrived early. In other words, it means early. Okay? So, "ahead

of time" means early. Next, let's look at number eight: "Behind the times".

Okay? There's an "s" here. "Behind the times". So, we could say: "He's a little

bit behind the times — he doesn't use email; he writes actual letters. He has

a flip phone and not a smartphone. He's a little bit behind the times." Okay?

That means not up to date; a little bit old-fashioned, not using the latest

technology, not having the latest ideas. Okay? So, this is "behind the times".

Next: "Out of time". Let me give you an example: "The teacher asked me to submit

my exam paper right away because I was out of time." The teacher collected my

exam paper, and she said... I want... I really wanted to finish, but she said:

"Sorry, you're out of time." So, what does it mean to be "out of time"? To not

have any time left. Okay? No time left; you're out of time. You have no time

left for something. Okay? All right. And the last one: "Just in time". Okay? That

means before, but at the last minute. For example: "We arrived just in time to

catch the flight." Or: "We arrived just in time for the meeting." Or: "We

arrived just in time for the wedding; otherwise, we would have missed it". "We

arrived just in time for the movie; it was about to start." Okay? So, just

before something important was supposed to happen — if you arrive then, for

example, then that would be "just in time". All right? Good. Are you still

with me? Good for you.

Let's review these a little bit. So, if someone always arrives early, they

arrive when? Which of these last five? Have a look. They arrive "ahead of

time". Good. Okay? Very good. And you have no time left; you can't work on

your exam paper anymore, you can't work on your presentation anymore. You have

no time left. You are what? Which of these? You are "out of time". Yes, I

heard you; good for you. All right. Let's suppose you have a lot of work to

do, so... or you're just kind of a very super-healthy person, and you like to

wake up really early in the morning. You like to meditate or you like to

exercise, or something like that. So, when do you wake up? You wake up when?

At the "crack of dawn" — very, very early in the morning. Okay. And let's

suppose you arrive somewhere before... the last minute before something

important happens. Then you arrive, which one? "Just in time". Right. And

what did we leave out? Okay. All right. So, let's suppose somebody is not using

the latest technology, not using the latest equipment, and so on. That person

would be what? "Behind the times". Okay? So, again, if you want to remember them

— write, think. Think to yourself: "Do I know someone who's behind the times?

Yes." Okay? "Do I know someone who always arrives ahead of time?" Write

that... Write that down; make it relevant to something that you can...

can relate to. Okay? Something that makes sense to you and that you always

understand. Connect the two. That's what learning is: Connecting new knowledge to

something you already have. And that way, you remember much better. Okay.

It's a memory technique. All right.

So, if you would like to practice these, of course, what you should do — go to

our website at www.engvid.com; and there you can do a full quiz on this. And if

you want to go even further to improve your English, please check out my

English course, "Correct Your English Errors"... "Correct Your English Errors

in Ten Minutes a Day". And there you'll have a chance to improve all aspects of

your English very easily and quickly, like I said, in about ten minutes a day.

All right? There are 60 lessons; all kinds of mistakes in grammar,

vocabulary, pronunciation — and you have a chance to improve. Just like you took

time now, you can take time on a regular basis and really improve your English.

Okay? I'll leave a link for you below. And if you haven't already, subscribe to

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whenever there is a new lesson. Okay? Thanks so much for watching and all the

best with your English. Bye for now.