against the clock

meaning:if you work against the clock, you are trying very hard to finish something before a deadlineuse:Police are working against the clock to find the evidence they need.

2around the clock

meaning:all day and all nightuse:The nurses worked around the clock to look after the injured child.

3back in the daymeaning:a time in the past; used mostly when you are remembering nice thingsuse:My parents say Hong Kong’s pollution wasn’t a problem back in the day, and the sky was always blue.

4behind the timesmeaning:old-fashioned; not modernuse:Anyone who isn’t on Snapchat is behind the times and needs to catch up!

5call it a day/night

meaning:decide that you have finished doing something for nowuse:We’ve been working on this project since 6am. Let’s call it a day, and finish it tomorrow.

6crunch timemeaning:a point at which something difficult must be doneuse:The elections have been entertaining, but now it’s crunch time, and the candidates must prove they are worthy

7day in the sunmeaning:a time when you get attention and are appreciateduse:If she keeps working so hard, she will have her day in the sun and be promoted.

8someone’s days are numbered

meaning:they will not exist for much longeruse:After it got knocked over by that truck, my bike’s days are numbered.

9at the eleventh hourmeaning:at the last moment; almost too lateuse:The director was making changes to the script at the eleventh hour – I mean, the audience were already in the hall!

10 five o’clock shadow

meaning:when a man’s facial hair starts showing a little bit when he hasn’t shaved since morninguse:Andy thinks he has five o’clock shadow, but I’m sure it’s just dirt.

11make good time

meaning:travel quicklyuse:Luckily there was no traffic, and we made good time to the border.

12never in a month of Sundays

meaning:very, very unlikely to happenuse:Shelley will never in a month of Sundays agree to go out with Richard!

13in the nick of time

meaning:at the last possible momentuse:Mum saw the plate falling and caught it in the nick of time.

14once in a blue moon

meaning:very, very rarelyuse:Once in a blue moon, I really feel like watching a musical, but generally I prefer action thrillers.

15play for time

meaning:to purposely delay doing something, or do it more slowly than usual, so you have more time to decide what to douse:When Dad asked Molly what happened to the window, she gave him a big hug and said how much she loved him. But she was just playing for time – I know she broke it!

16since time immemorial

meaning:for a very, very long time; since before anyone can rememberuse:Our school has had the same, ugly uniform since time immemorial.

17a stitch in time saves nine

meaning:it is better to deal with problems immediately, otherwise they will get worse and take even longer to deal withuse:Andy and Alex should really break up if they argue so much. It will be painful, but a stitch in time saves nine, and it’s better to do it before they say something they can’t take back!

18time flies

meaning:time passes surprisingly quicklyuse:Time flies when you have three essays to write in a night.

19time on your hands

meaning:a period when you have nothing to douse:Grandma has a lot of time on her hands now she’s retired, so she volunteers at the SPCA.

20 time is money

meaning:time is valuable, and you shouldn’t waste it.use:Why are you just sitting staring at the ceiling? Time is money! Get up and do something practical!

21time is on my side

meaning:I have a lot of time to finish somethinguse:Since Mr Ng gave us an extension on that project, time is on my side, and I can make it really great

not related to time but related to character