Idioms: time 141

Idioms use language metaphorically rather than literally. If you do something 'at the last minute' you do it almost as the deadline is approaching (the metaphorical meaning), you don't actually do it exactly one minute before the deadline (the literal meaning).

Idioms are also fixed groups of words so you can't change the wording of an idiom. For example, you can say you did something 'at the eleventh hour' (which has a similar meaning to 'at the last minute') but you can't say you did something 'at the ninth hour'.

Idioms with 'time'

in the nick of time
just in time, with hardly any time to spare - at the last possible moment:
-betul2 pada masanya-

.....We had a flat tyre on the way to the airport so we managed to catch our plane just in the nick of time.
.....A nick was a mark on a stick which was used in the past to measure time.
....We got there just in the nick of time. A minute later and she'd have left.
....We got there just in the nick of time.



from time to time
occasionally, not often -dari semASA kesemasa- sekali sekala-

.....We used to go out together almost every weekend but now that she's got kids I only see her from time to time.
....From time to time we heard a rumble of thunder.
....We cycle into town from time to time.


before your time
something that happened or existed before you were born or were old enough to remember it - sebelum zaman seseorang /saya/awak - sebelum masanya-

....Of course I don't remember the Los Angeles Olympics. They were way before my time.
.....'Do you remember the Watergate scandal?' 'No, that was before my time.'


have (got) no time for someone
disapprove of someone and not want to be involved with him or her
-malas nak layan-tiada masa nak layan-buang masa nak layan orang macamni-

....I've got no time for people who don't pay their way. I don't see why I should always be the one to buy the drinks.
....I've got no time for people who are always complaining.
.....I've got no time for negative people.
.....She doesn't have much time for liberal ideas about dealing with criminals.

OPPOSITE-to like and admire someone or something

....I've got a lot of time for Jenny. She always has something interesting to say.
.....I've got a lot of time for his ideas about child psychology.



live on borrowed time
continue living after a point when you might easily have died
-menunggu saat mati- melebehi jangka waktu hayat seseorang

......Since his second heart attack, it's like he's been living on borrowed time. He's taken up golf, started painting and is really just getting much more out of life
....I've got cancer - I'm living on borrowed time.
.....Since his cancer was diagnosed, he feels as if he's living on borrowed time.
2 - to continue to exist longer than expected:
....It is unlikely that serious decisions will be taken by a minority government living on borrowed time.
-yang melebihi jangka waktu hayat-

stand the test of time
something that is still popular, strong or good after a long time
-dapat bertahan lama-

.....Everyone loves that film just now but will it actually stand the test of time?
.....Which songs from the last year will stand the test of time?
.....Very little of the drama from this period has stood the test of time.


time will tell
...the truth or result will only be known after other things have happened

....Only time will tell whether she made the right decision sacking Joe and hiring Frank
.......I don't know if this marriage will work, but time will tell.
.....Only time will tell if the business will be successful.

Idioms about time:

at the last minute
at the latest possible chance to do something - disaat2 akhir-

....We'd decided we weren't going to go aboard this summer and then, at the last minute, we decided we did want a sunny, beach holiday after all.
....They only told me at the last minute that they couldn't come.
....Why do you always leave everything till the last minute?


last-minute
adjective

.....a last-minute cancellation


sooner or later
- lambat laun-
certain that something will happen but you don't know exactly when

.....You can sit there watching TV for as long as you like but sooner or later you're going to have to wash the dishes so you might as well just get on with them now.
.....Sooner or later she's going to realize what a mistake she's made.


once in a blue moon
rarely, not often -jarang-jarang sekali

.....Before we got married we used to go out on dates all the time. Now if I'm lucky, we'll go to the cinema once in a blue moon.
......My sister lives in Alaska, so I only see her once in a blue moon.

once in a lifetime
only likely to happen once in a person's life:

....An opportunity as good as this arises once in a lifetime.

for donkeys' years / donkeys
-lama betul-

.....I've been doing this job for donkey's years.
.....I haven't seen her for donkeys. She moved to Spain in 1998 and I haven't seen her since.

Vocabulary:

I'm off
I'm leaving now - pergi-

off (AWAY FROM)
adverb, preposition -pergi
away from a place or position, especially the present place or position:

....He drove off at the most incredible speed. -dia memandu pergi
.....Keep the dog on the lead or he'll just run off. -pergi lari-
....Someone's run off with (= taken) my pen. -bawa pergi-
....I'm just going off to the shops. - pergi
.....If we can get off (= leave) early tomorrow morning we'll avoid most of the traffic.
.....I'm off now - see you tomorrow.
......She's off to Canada next week. -akan ke
.....I saw her off (= said goodbye) at the station.
....There was a 'keep off the grass' sign.

the off
noun [S] UK INFORMAL
the act of leaving somewhere:

....Are we ready for the off, then?

what time do you call this?
Why are you late?


getting on my wick
annoying me -menjengkelkan -buat saya jengkel-berasa sakit hati

....She'd been asking me questions all day and it was starting to get on my wick