Learn practical English expressions about time, which are crucial for daily conversations. By learning collocations, you’ll start speaking English more quickly because these word combinations sound natural to native speakers.
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List of English expressions
Practical English Expressions about Time
Harry
Today in our advanced English lesson, you will learn 12 verb collocations with “time.” These are special phrases that help you sound more fluent when you discuss time in English, whether you’re talking about your daily activities or special events.
Learning these collocations will improve your speaking and writing, making your English sound more like that of a native speaker.
Today, we’ll cover several important English phrases that involve time. Understanding these will help you express yourself more clearly and confidently. Let’s explore each one and see how you can use them effectively in your daily conversations.
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to allocate time
Meaning: to set aside a specific amount of time for a particular task or activity
Examples:
Every weekend, I allocate some time just for myself to relax and catch up on my reading.
I allocate time each morning to practice yoga, which helps me stay calm and focused throughout the day.
to be pressed for time
Meaning: to be in a hurry or to have very little time to spare
Examples:
I’m pressed for time and need to start dinner right away.
Sorry, I can’t take on another task right now. I’m really pressed for time with this deadline approaching.
to devote time
Meaning: to spend a certain amount of time doing something specific
Examples:
He loves to devote time to his family, enjoying long walks and games with his children.
They devote their time to assisting charities with projects that help the community.
Practical English Expressions about Time
to find time
Meaning: to identify or make available a specific period during which you can do something
Examples:
I don’t know where you’ll find the time to fit in all the study you promised.
I don’t know where I’ll find the time to do all that work that I have on my agenda.
to free up time
Meaning: to make time available by rearranging your schedule or completing tasks more efficiently
Examples:
I’ll free up some time this afternoon to help you with your project.
If it’s really urgent, I’ll free up time. What time suits you? I’ll free up time on my agenda.
to invest time
Meaning: to spend time on something that you expect will be good for you later
Examples:
He decided to invest more time in his studies to improve his grades.
He has invested a lot of time in his political activities, and I really hope he gets selected.
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to kill time
Meaning: to do something to pass the time while waiting for something else to happen
Examples:
I arrived early for the meeting, so I decided to kill time by browsing a magazine.
Perhaps I’ll read that document I’ve been putting off for several weeks. That will kill some time.
I had an hour to spare before my appointment, so I decided to kill time by going for a walk.
My flight was delayed, so I killed some time at the airport by watching planes take off and land.
to manage time
Meaning: to plan and organise your day to use your time well and get things done
Examples:
She manages her time well by creating a schedule for her studies and breaks.
With lots of responsibilities and tasks, the best way to handle it all is to learn how to manage your time effectively.
To keep up with your busy schedule, it’s crucial to learn how to manage your time wisely.
You’ve missed a few deadlines recently. I think it’s important for you to learn to manage your time better.
to run out of time
Meaning: to use up all your time and not finish something
Examples:
I wanted to plan a meetup with my friends, but I ran out of time.
That’s the meeting over. We ran out of time and couldn’t discuss all the topics.
I stayed longer than expected and ran out of time on the parking meter.
Practical English Expressions about Time
to set/put aside time
Meaning: to reserve a specific period for a particular activity or task
Examples:
Every weekend, I set aside time to work on my garden and relax outdoors.
I’ll put aside some time next week to visit the gym and start working on my fitness goals.
You have to set aside time every week to do some exercise. You’ll feel much better.
I need to put aside some time this weekend to do my tax return.
to take up time
Meaning: to use or require a significant amount of time
Examples:
Going to the supermarket takes up a lot of my time on weekends.
Taking the rubbish out takes up more time than you’d expect when I clean the flat.
Replying to emails takes up a significant amount of time each day.
Sleeping an extra couple of hours in the morning takes up time, and perhaps you don’t need that.
to waste time
Meaning: to spend time doing something that is not productive or unnecessary
Examples:
Harry tries not to waste time on silly things.
He wasted time staring out the window instead of completing his report.
That’s all for today’s lesson on practical English expressions about time. Remember, using these natural phrases regularly in your conversations will improve your English significantly. They help make your speech more detailed and natural.
Keep practising, and don’t hesitate to revisit this lesson to reinforce your learning. For more tips and lessons, make sure to visit englishlessonviaskype.com and subscribe to the channel.
This is Harry saying goodbye. Thank you for listening and watching. Join me again soon!
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more information
For more information on English grammar rules, English collocations and English idioms, check out the links below:
Intermediate English travel vocabulary
English vocabulary related to driving
You can always study English advanced level at Learning English with the BBC and British Council Learn English.
