Idiomatic Expressions Of Time, Use of Since, Before and Ago in a Sentences

The idiomatic expresions of time, use of since, before and ago in sentences, the idioms about time and meanings.

Expressions without preposition;

• * He has ten pounds a month.: He earns ten pound in a month
• * He means to go home next week / next Saturday week.
• * An hour after you left the rain came on.
• * It rained all night.
• * His brother was married yesterday morning.
• * Aeneas left Troy the very night it was taken.
• * She lived with them two years.
• * I was sent for the other morning, i.e. one morning.

Expressions with prepositions;

• * The heat was intense at two o’clock.
• * He went off on Friday. (Cuma günü gitti.)
• * I expect an answer to my application by the end of June.
• * We were in church a little before the clock struck eight.
• * We shall arrive in less than half an hour.

Expressions with SINCE, BEFORE, AGO

• * He has been ill since Tuesday.
• * He went to Calcutta two months ago.
• * The prince’s health is no worse than before.

Various Expressions;

• A little time ago / a little while ago:
• A long time ago / a long while ago:
• Long, long ago: (= a very long time past).
• In course of time: (= in process of time, as time wears on).
• In an instant / in a moment / in a second: (= in a very brief space of time).
• In an instant:(— at once, without a moment’s delay).
• On the spur of the moment: (= at once, without a moment’s reflection, impulsively).
• In the nick of time: (= just before it would have been too late).
  * A ship picked him up in the nick of time.
• To be in time / to be in good time:(= to be early enough).
  * The farmer tries to get in his crops in good time.
  * He came in time to see the fireworks.
  * The cheat is in time found out, i.e. eventually found out.
• In times gone by: (=in times indefinitely past, a long time ago).
  * He applied for a job time after time.
  * I have met him in the street many a time.
• At times:(= sometimes).
• At all times:(= always).
• At stated times:(= at regular intervals, at fixed periods).
  * Complaints have been made against this man from time to time.
• By and by: (= after a little while).
• Ever and anon:(= time after time, repeatedly, though infrequently).
  * Ever and anon the tolling of a bell was heard.
• Every now and then:(= occasionally)
  * He gets into difficulties every now and then.
• The dead of night: (= midnight).
• At the eleventh hour:(=at the latest available time).
  * The arrangements are on the eve of completion.
• To spend time / to pass the time:
  * This man has spent three hours in consulting a timetable.
  * She has gone to pass the morning with her friend.
• A man loses time:
• To waste time: (=to spend time uselessly).
• To kill time:
• Spare time: (=time to spare, leisure).
  * He has plenty of time on his hands, i.e. he has plenty of leisure.
  * I had time enough to do my work in, i.e. I had enough time to do it.
  * Time hangs heavy on his hands, i.e. he finds it difficult to use his time.
• For about a year: in about a year:
  * He has been in Ceylon for about two years. / He has been in Ceylon two years or so.
• Some ten days after the ceremony:
• To beat time:
  * The feet of the dancers beat time / keep time to the music.
• to Sing in time:
  * He is working against time.
  * This newspaper is out of date.
• Time out of mind / time immemorial:
  * He tries to make the best of his time. / He tries to make the most of his time.
  * He will be here in no time.
• To have an easy time of it: (= to live in quiet and comfort, to lead a life of ease and to be without worry or hard work)
  * So long as Mr. Brown was the manager the clerks had an easy time of it, but there was a change when his successor came in.
• To take one’s time: (= not to be in a hurry).
• To bide one’s time: (= to wait patiently for a favourable opportunity).
  * The deer are coming and the tiger is in the thicket biding his time.
• To serve one’s time:
  * My time is up and I must go.
  * Take your time, i.e. don’t be in a hurry: acele etmeyin.
  * It is time we were there, i.e. we ought to have been there by this time.
• To take time by the forelock:
  * Time is painted with a lock before and bald behind, signifying thereby that we must take time by the forelock; for when it is once past there is no recalling it.
• His time is come.: He is about to die
• To number one’s days:(= to have regard to the shortness of human life; to consider one’s latter end).
  * Teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.’ (Psalm xc. 12)
  * His days are numbered, i.e. he is soon to die / his end is near.