talkiteasy.eu|englishidioms.eu|englishidioms.it|idioms.it|idiominglesi.it|idiomspace.eu|americanidioms.eu|phrasalverbs.eu

TIME, PLACES AND SPACES
Time
Places And Spaces

T  I  M  E    a n d   P  L  A  C  E  S

:: Use Ctrl+F to search for a specific idiom or scroll down for the complete listing ::

TIME

L'estate di San Martino, un'estate che si prolunga in autunno (o un successo in tarda carriera)

Indian summer

This October record-breaking Indian summer allows us to go to the sea and swim!

The old writer won the prize and confessed that it came like the indian summer of his career.

C'e un tempo ed un luogo per tutto

There's a time and a place for everything

It was terrible that they were arguing in the middle of the party: there's a time and a place for everything.

All in good time

It takes concentration, it's better not to do it now.. all in good time.

Good things come to those who wait

After a couple of years they were refunded their tax overpayment... good things come to those who wait.

To bide one's time

When the meeting took place, he attacked me and I didn't rebute his false charges... I'm biding my time to take revenge.

To keep abreast of the time

They always try to keep abreast of the times in how they lead the firm.

There is no time like the present (to seize the moment)

I know it's a quick trip but, it should still be fun nonetheless... there's no time like the present! Seize the moment!

Presto

Ahead of time

Our manager decided to start the meeting ahead of time so we could go home early.

Per tutto il tempo, sempre

All along

I knew all along that Albert would not organize the party.

Definitivamente, permanentemente

For keeps

It's so, Belinda, this little cat is ours, for keeps!

Improvvisamente, senza alcun preavviso

All at once

All at once the alarm rang so all the workers had to leave the office. 

Fino ad ora, fino ad adesso

As yet

As yet, Linda has not told us about her plans to leave the campus.

Un giorno importante, in cui inizia qualcosa (o in cui finisce)

D-day

I've definitely made up my mind to give up smoking.. tomorrow will be D-day.

Just one of those days

After many setbacks he even had a car crash... it really was one of those days!

Early days yet

He has been working here from yesterday and he's getting down to it... anyway, it's early days yet for judging.

To be dead on time

I'm getting used to being dead on time for appointments because I don't want other people waiting for me.

To make time

You have to make time for the guys this afternoon: even if you're busy, you definitely have to meet them for a couple of hours.

At the drop of the hat (at the blink of an eyelid)

She wasn't serious about her boyfriend... she said she would leave him at the drop of the hat (at the blink of an eyelid).

Metterci un secondo

Shan't be a tick

Hold on here... I shan't be a tick!

Subito, rapidamente, in un attimo

Before long

Hey Al, are you tired? Just be patient: Friday will be here before long!

You look so tired, Greg... just be patient, the weekend will be here before long.

Occasionalmente, raramente, quando capita

From time to time (once in a while, now and then)

He used to go to the theatre, from time to time.

Yes... tea, please. I generally drink tea, I drink coffee once in a while

"Do you see Belinda often?" "Oh no… not really: I see her now and then, not regularly."

Discontinuamente, ad intermittenza, a pezzi e bocconi

In fits and starts, by fits and starts

Our research was advancing by fits and starts.

Peter’s terribly shy: when at the convention he started speaking in fits and starts.

I keep telling Harry it’s no use learning in (by) fits and starts.

Prima o poi

One of these days (sooner or later)

You're risking life and limb... sooner or later you'll break your neck, driving such a way.

D'ora in poi

From this day onwards

After you told me about that cheap department store at the end of the road, I swear... I'll go shopping there, from this day onwards.

On and off

He came to the club only on and off at weekends.

More times than I have had hot dinners

I accompanied her to Bingo more times than I've had hot dinners.

Day in, day out

The prisoner had been boring the tunnel beneath the high fence, day in, day out.

Until the cows come home

You can wait until the cows come home... she'll never call you.

For donkey's years

I attended that social circle for donkey's years... that's why I know the most of them.

All the time in the world

Play it cool, dear... you've got all the time in the world.

Quando, ogni volta che

As and when

We can leave as and when you prefer.

Now and again

I see them now and again, at the hang out.

Raramente

Few and far between

The times she actually came with us were few and far between.

Quasi mai, ad ogni morte di papa

Once in a blue moon

Now that Nina has moved out of London, I only see her once in a blue moon.

In the nick of time

I nearly missed my flight to Rome; luckily, I boarded just in the nick of time.

To be behind the times

Staying always at home, the odd couple were behind the times insofar as knowing the new restaurants and clubs in the city.

Tirarla per le lunghe, impiegare (molto) più tempo del necessario

To drag one's feet

Harry? Oh... he should have finished the job a month ago... he's dragging his feet.

How time drags

Waiting is so boring: after the last week-end we spent together, how time drags!

In a month of Sundays

We hadn't met in a month of Sundays.

Bad timing

You had bad timing there, entering the room exactly when they started arguing.

To mark time

The employee kept looking at the clock, marking time.

Glory days

The old man used to pass hours dwelling upon the glory days of the World War and all the battles won, talking with the veterans at the bar.

To blow over (to run it's course)

The slump in prices and collapse in sales are tendencies which cannot go on for ever, economists said: it will blow over in few months (run it's course in few months).

To pass the sell-by date

I don't want to eat in that fast-food place any more... I'm sure their stuff has passed its sell-by date.

Time hangs heavy on one's hands

Do you remember last year when we were annoyed by doing nothing... time was hanging heavy on our hands.

Down memory lane

Old people love being nostalgic and going down memory lane.

To do time for

He never confessed that, many years ago, he had done time for a hold-up.

To drag on

Don't drag on that story with Betty for too long... if you don't like her, it's better to break it off.

Gone down the drain

One should be careful how to spend money... it's easy to see it go down the drain.

Tempo fa

The A while ago, a while back

Brida's always busy... she called me a while ago (a while back) talking about her new job.

Molto tempo fa

Many moons ago

We met the first time many moons ago, when we were studying at the college.

In the mists of time

I hadn't recognised her.. we only saw each other once, and it happened in the mists of time.

To let bygones be bygones

A lot of time has passed... forget that old offence and let bygones be bygones.

 

top

PLACES AND SPACES

Paesi che vai, usanze che trovi

Different strokes for different folks

Being in the States I couldn't believe how they could eat such greasy jam doughnuts... you know: different strokes for different folks.

In this neck of the woods

What are you doing in this neck of the woods?

On one's own doorstep

It's a pity that I don't take advantage of living so near the centre, considering that there are many theatres and restaurants just on my doorstep.

Never-never land (the land of milk and honey)

They risked their life crossing the border illegally, to enter what they dreamed would be never-never land (the land of milk and honey).

Toing and froing (backwards and forwards)

He's a great traveller, toing and froing between east and west.

Up and down

The demonstrators' march went up and down the street.

Here and there (scattered around)

The news about the bomb made people run, here, there and everywhere out of the station!

Back and forth (to and from somewhere)

The Guru's disciples arrived back and forth to listen to him.

Far and wide

They invaded the country far and wide, but taking no prisoners.

All over the place, everywhere

There were fireworks all over the place.

There's no room to swing a cat

I can't conceive how they managed to live in that small house with four children... there was no room to swing a cat in there.

Too close for comfort

You have to learn how to park the car: the last time you nearly knocked the bumper and that was too close for comfort!

To make oneself scarce

Being aware that her old boyfriend was arriving with his group, Sheila preferred to make herself scarce.

Make tracks for something

After many chats he made tracks for going to live in Europe.

A whistle-stop tour

It's so tiring to go around all day to see every corner of the city... you know those breathless whistle-stop tours!

A day's walk away

The wise sheriff told them to have a rest before starting, because the village was a day's walk away.

To mope about (around)

The disheartened man was moping about (around), with a bottle of whisky, all through the night.

To wander about

After reading "On the road" he's still wandering around and about.

Home from home

Even if she lived ten years abroad, she immediately felt like it was home from home, staying with us.

No man's land

Because the valley was so far from the two cities, it remained a no man's land.

In the middle of nowhere

When we got off the coach we unexpectedly found ourselves in a unknown place... in the middle of nowhere.