⏳ Time Vocabulary

Part 1: Time Collocations

Collocations are words that naturally go together. Native speakers use them without thinking!

Collocation	Example	Meaning
spare time	"I like reading in my spare time."	Free time; time not spent working
kill time	"We played cards to kill time before the train."	Do something while waiting
on time	"The bus arrived on time."	Punctual; not late
take your time	"Take your time — there's no hurry."	Do something slowly and calmly
waste time	"Don't waste time arguing."	Use time in a pointless way
save time	"Using a dishwasher saves time."	Do something more efficiently

Collocation	Example
right on schedule	"The project was finished right on schedule."
behind schedule	"We're behind schedule as usual."
at the last minute	"He always arrives at the last minute."
in the nick of time	"They arrived in the nick of time — one minute before closing."
a matter of time	"It's only a matter of time before they succeed."

1. I don't want to time scrolling on my phone. (waste/spend)

2. We still have an hour, so let's time in a café. (kill/pass)

3. Don’t rush — your time. (take/use)

4. The train arrived right time. (on/in)

5. Using a timer can time. (save/keep)

Idioms are expressions that don't mean exactly what the words say — they make your English sound natural!

beat the clock – finish before a deadline "We managed to beat the clock and submit the report."
time flies – time passes quickly "Time flies when you're having fun."
around the clock – 24 hours without stopping "Doctors worked around the clock during the emergency."
once in a blue moon – very rarely "He only visits once in a blue moon."
ahead of time – earlier than expected "We finished ahead of time."
behind the times – old-fashioned "He's a bit behind the times when it comes to technology."

1. We finished the project ahead of .

2. He only calls once in a blue .

3. We worked around the to prepare for the launch.

4. Time when you're busy.

5. They’re a little behind the with their old computers.

Phrasal verbs are verbs + prepositions that create new meanings—perfect for talking about time!

Phrasal Verb	Meaning	Example
run out of	Have no time left	"We're running out of time — hurry!"
set back	Delay something	"The storm set back the construction."
look back	Think about the past	"When I look back, I realise how much I've grown."
put off	Delay or postpone	"Don't put off your homework."
count down to	Wait excitedly for something	"We're counting down to the holidays."

Run out of is extremely common before deadlines.

Put off is perfect for talking about procrastination.

Look back is used when reflecting on memories.

1. Hurry! We're running of time.

2. Don’t off your work until tomorrow.

3. I like to back on childhood memories.

4. The rain back the event by an hour.

5. We're counting to our holiday!

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⏰ Great job! You’ve mastered time vocabulary — right on time!