time

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=dGltZQ&hash=1a871194bd61b3a5be84276ff194df5639bb3951&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts&accent=US

to waste

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=dG8gd2FzdGU&hash=b46d144fc1307df0250f697f5adaa978a2414f81&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts&accent=US

to save

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=dG8gc2F2ZQ&hash=b199b429af0ebe0e57d4854c9cb8cf5244757f27&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts&accent=US

to spend

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=dG8gc3BlbmQ&hash=76475e199277ab2b1ea34dd3d16f419049c90b21&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts&accent=US

to [take] time

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=dG8gdGFrZSB0aW1l&hash=4e3398659d59e9e4785c1285bc45b1a2850e0036&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts&accent=US

to [make] up for lost time

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=dG8gbWFrZSB1cCBmb3IgbG9zdCB0aW1l&hash=8b4541092e536e5db34aa3913fe8c2a59fae38fd&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts&accent=US

to [give] {sb} a (hard|tough|rough) time

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=dG8gZ2l2ZSBzb21lYm9keSBhIGhhcmQgdGltZQ&hash=0d75a370882daf6ad0b05085a508c7d44a6cd769&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts&accent=US

to spare

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=dG8gc3BhcmU&hash=38476e9660e3891ed2ebd815eb622436eb631b0f&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts

to take up

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=dG8gdGFrZSB1cA&hash=fc9a14a2377f896b94a9259feb1ea276df9e0e00&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts&accent=US

to [have] the time

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=dG8gaGF2ZSB0aGUgdGltZQ&hash=dbff0fa385c6fb00c1714030a3cbe23ff18dc66d&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts&accent=US

to [run] out of time

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=dG8gcnVuIG91dCBvZiB0aW1l&hash=0e164627dafc03dea1b68d53f697d02ce1d212e2&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts&accent=US

The exact origin of the idiom "play for time" is unclear, as it has been in use for quite some time and has become a common expression in the English language. The concept of strategically buying time or delaying action can be traced back to various strategies employed in different fields, such as diplomacy, military tactics. It is commonly used in negotiations, discussions, or conflicts, where one side may intentionally prolong the process to gather more information, assess the situation, or buy themselves time to formulate a better strategy.

What is the origin of the idiom "play for time" and when to use it?

to [play] for time

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=dG8gcGxheSBmb3IgdGltZQ&hash=e6a0e44f7bc3ebd75111c87341d2d550a807d953&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts&accent=US

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=YXQ&hash=a54d8587690036cd370c07e7f0e156d8bef949a4&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts&accent=US

before

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=YmVmb3Jl&hash=0314262793440f75e770096e258551e73e846146&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts&accent=US

behind

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=YmVoaW5k&hash=d86c9eb24c90f4fb77f6e3c835f7465506eb428e&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts&accent=US

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=Ynk&hash=990d69a806f0f68ddf52b66f92af1e9683ff986b&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts&accent=US

from

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=ZnJvbQ&hash=d34345d30bdb332a447d4c9005253a3feee90241&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts&accent=US

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=aW4&hash=8abc034fc74789b3b7b63bd04249c51a601efa75&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts&accent=US

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=b2Zm&hash=1a7c861080497b81f5e15782a2f3bd3b29ea3438&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts&accent=US

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=b24&hash=1e7ab59e834e24ceee38ff86adb916da6020344f&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts&accent=US

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=dG8&hash=a751643bf6ca7dc24da1742b7ef23c7f87cb356c&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts

with time to spare

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=d2l0aCB0aW1lIHRvIHNwYXJl&hash=6ab228c5e1567804d018dc9bee5c3e94cdb65b0f&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts&accent=US

whole

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=d2hvbGU&hash=456fd1fe89411b716334a5c047fa844be69020cc&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts&accent=US

time is up

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=dGltZSBpcyB1cA&hash=30167b15cc5ed11213f7ab013b03d7033c6b81ff&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts&accent=US

to [be] short of {sth}

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=dG8gYmUgc2hvcnQgb2Ygc29tZXRoaW5n&hash=4052de89b18884cc424dcc8befb3ef2cf539275a&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts&accent=US

The idiom "have time on one's hands" has its origins in the English language and dates back to the 17th century. The word "hands" in this expression refers to the idea of having one's hands unoccupied or free from tasks or responsibilities. It suggests that someone has an excess of time that is not filled with necessary or obligatory activities. It is often employed when discussing periods of downtime, such as during vacations, holidays, or extended breaks from work or school.

What is the origin of the idiom "have time on one's hands" and when to use it?

to [have] time on {one's} hands

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=dG8gaGF2ZSB0aW1lIG9uIG9uZSdzIGhhbmRz&hash=13895f1a85b9f3992947da6f49f12d2953443d87&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts&accent=US

for the time being

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=Zm9yIHRoZSB0aW1lIGJlaW5n&hash=522bf9ca03ca2227c52a60ea4074260ac356ba2b&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts&accent=US

The idiom "be a matter of time" is used to convey the idea that a particular event or outcome is inevitable and will occur in the future, although the specific timing may be uncertain. Its origin is not precisely documented, but it has been used for many years to indicate the inevitability of a situation.

What is the origin of the idiom "be a matter of time" and when to use it?

to [be] (only|just|) a matter of time

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=dG8gYmUgb25seSBhIG1hdHRlciBvZiB0aW1l&hash=59dcb56289089cb86478b2616be34e94468faa1e&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts&accent=US

me time

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=bWUgdGltZQ&hash=b34a614349ed441f89d6c22366ec797b38d088bc&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts&accent=US

The origin of the idiom "about time" can be traced back to the Middle English period, where the word "about" was used to mean "concerning" or "regarding." The use of "about" in this manner can be seen in expressions like "about that matter" or "about this issue." In this phrase, the emphasis is on the passage of time and the feeling of it being an appropriate or overdue moment for a particular event or action. It is commonly used in informal conversations, casual writing, and even in more formal settings.

What is the origin of the idiom "about time" and when to use it?

(about|high) time

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=YWJvdXQgdGltZQ&hash=88b02991dcf20f82923b1bc1a3b4bfdb4a199265&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts&accent=US

time-consuming

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=dGltZS1jb25zdW1pbmc&hash=b5a81502cc76f1d5841856a459f00db369a29b95&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts&accent=US

Here you will find the vocabulary from Lesson 5A in the English File Advanced coursebook, such as "spare", "time-consuming", "take up", etc.

Archivo de Inglés Avanzado "Lección 5A" Vocabulario