Learn 15 time expressions in English
- Hello everyone, and welcome
back to “English With Lucy.”
Today I have got a
vocabulary video for you
on expressions using the word “time.”
“In time,” “on time.”
What’s the difference? I will explain.
“Just in time,” “in
good time,” “time off.”
We’re going to go through everything.
Your vocabulary is going to be so enriched
by the end of this video.
But before we get started,
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You can see here I am
having a pretty good time.
(chuckles)
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Alfonso thinks you should
definitely do that.
It’s got all of the
vocabulary and examples,
plus an extra activity that
I think you’ll really like.
Right, let’s get started with the lesson.
So first let’s talk about
“in time” and “on time.”
What are the differences?
We’ll start with number one, “on time.”
This means at the scheduled time.
Quick note, a lot of students ask me
whether they should say
schedule or schedule.
Schedule is considered
to be British English,
and schedule is considered
to be American English,
but I actually grew up saying schedule.
My mum taught me to say schedule,
so that’s what I grew up saying.
I use schedule now for consistency.
Let’s say we have a meeting at 10:00 AM,
the meeting was scheduled for 10:00 AM.
I arrived to the meeting at 10:00 AM.
I arrived on time, I arrived
at the scheduled time.
Now, what about number two, “in time?”
This means that I arrived
before the scheduled time.
The meeting was scheduled for 10:00 AM,
I arrived at 9:30 AM.
I arrived in time to buy a
coffee before the meeting.
We have number three, “just
in time,” “just in time.”
This means immediately
before the scheduled time.
The meeting was at 10:00
AM, as we all know.
I arrived at 9:59 AM.
I arrived just in time for
the meeting, just before.
It can also mean right
before it was too late.
The baby was about to fall out of bed,
but his mum arrived just in time,
right before it was too late.
We also have number four, “in
good time,” “in good time.”
There are two meanings that
I’m going to discuss with you.
The first is with no risk of being late.
The meeting was at 10, I arrived at 9:45.
I arrived in good time
for the 10:00 meeting.
We also use “in good
time” as an expression
to tell someone that
they should be patient.
It means in due course.
It will happen, but without haste.
We often say “all in good time.”
I remember asking my
mum when I was a child
on Christmas morning, “When
can we open our presents?
When can we open our presents?”
And she would always say,
“All in good time, Lucy, all in good time.
It will happen, but just
be patient, stop rushing.”
We have number five, which is
“in your own time,” “in your own time.”
Again, this is another
one with two meanings.
The first meaning, at a time and a rate
decided by you, decided by oneself.
We often use this sarcastically
to imply that somebody is taking too long
and they need to hurry up.
For example, “In your own time, Will.
Diego and I have been
waiting to go on a walk
for 15 minutes.”
Whenever we take Diego on a family walk,
Will always seems to take so long
getting his coat and his boots
on, so I often have to say,
“In your own time, at your
own pace,” sarcastically.
Will is going to be so cross
when he sees this video,
because it’s actually normally
me taking too long. (laughs)
The second meaning is outside
of work hours, or unpaid.
For example, you can use social media
in your own time, not at work.
Don’t use social media
whilst I’m paying you
to do something else.
We also have number six,
“about time,” “about time.”
It’s used to say that something
should have happened sooner,
and we often say it in an annoyed way.
For example, “It’s about
time they got married,
they’ve been engaged for
two-and-a-half years!”
Story of my life.
Number seven is “time off,” “time off.”
And this means time
for rest and recreation
away from one’s usual studies or work.
For example, “I need to call my boss
and book some time off,
some time away from work.”
Another really nice phrase
is “take your time,”
“take your time,” although,
like most phrases,
it is often used sarcastically.
It means to not hurry.
For example, “Take your time
with the book I lent you,
I don’t need it back anytime soon.”
If I were to say it sarcastically,
I would imply that somebody
is taking too long with something.
“Take your time, I’ll be here all day.”
Number nine, a phrase for busy people,
it is “to make time,” “to make time.”
This means to find an occasion
when time is available to do something.
An example, “I will see if I can make time
to visit the new coffee shop.”
I’m implying that I’m very busy,
but I will try and find a time
where I can go and visit it.
Number 10, “time will
tell,” “time will tell.”
It means that sooner or later
something will become known or revealed.
For example, “I don’t think
their relationship will last,
but only time will tell.”
Number 11, “time is
money,” “time is money.”
It means that time is a valuable resource,
so it’s better to get things done quickly.
An example, “Time is money, Peter,
I need that report finished by tomorrow.”
We also have number 12, “to
kill time,” “to kill time.”
And this means to do something
with the goal of making time
appear to pass more quickly.
An example, “I can’t wait
until the party tonight,
I’m going to go for a walk to kill time.”
I need to find something to do
so I can feel as if time
is passing more quickly.
Number 13, we have “time after
time,” “time after time.”
This means repeatedly, again and again.
An example, “I’ve told her time after time
to not leave empty milk
cartons in the fridge.”
Does anyone know anyone who does that?
I used to have a roommate, or a flatmate,
that used to finish milk,
and then put it back in the fridge.
I was like, “What?
When is that ever okay?”
Let me know in the
Comments section down below
if you’ve ever had a nightmare flatmate,
or just lived with someone unbearable.
And if you haven’t, it means
you might’ve been them.
(chuckles)
Number 14, “in the nick of time.”
This means just in time, right
before the scheduled time,
or right before it was too late.
For example, “The police
arrived at the scene
in the nick of time, right
before it was too late.”
And the last one, I’ve saved
a positive one till last,
“a whale of a time,” “a whale of a time,”
and this means a really good time.
“We had a whale of a time
at the theatre last night.
We had such a good time.”
Do you remember theatres?
Weren’t they nice?
Wow, I did not appreciate things
when I had them pre-lockdown.
Right, that’s it for today’s lesson.
Don’t forget to check out Lingoda,
you can get 20 euros off your first month
by using my code, LUCY13,
when clicking on the link
in the description box.
You can also claim your
free seven-day trial
with three free classes.
Don’t forget to download your
free PDF for this lesson.
Alfonso thinks you should
definitely do that.
It’s got all of the
vocabulary and examples,
plus an extra activity that
I think you’ll really like.
If you want to improve
your listening skills,
you can follow my vlogging
channel, Lucy Bella,
where I post fully subtitled blogs
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I will see you soon for another lesson.
(smooches)
(gentle music)