pattern

Time - Late or Early

Explore English idioms that relate to lateness or earliness, including "at the crack of dawn" and "the eleventh hour".

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English idioms related to Time
(till|until) all hours (of the day and night|)

used to refer to a really late hour at night or early morning

Ex: He stayed up till all hours finishing the report. 
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late in the day

too late or close to the end of a particular period or situation to be useful or effective

Ex: It is late in the day to raise objections now. 
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a day after the fair

a time that is too late for something

Ex: Your warning is a day after the fair; we already signed the contract. 
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light years away

a distant moment or period in the future or past that is often marked by significant technological, cultural, or historical changes

Ex: For them, the digital age was still light years away. 
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at the crack of dawn

at a very early time in the morning when the Sun is just rising

Ex: We left at the crack of dawn to avoid the traffic. 
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bright and early

at an hour of the morning that is really early

Ex: We need to leave bright and early tomorrow. 
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first light

the time of the morning when the Sun has just started to shine

Ex: We set out at first light to reach the summit before noon. 
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at {one's} earliest convenience

at the earliest time that it is possible or suitable for someone to do something

Ex: Please call me at your earliest convenience. 
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(about|high) time
about time
[phrase]

used to indicate that something should have happened or been done earlier

Ex: It is about time you called your mother. 
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at the eleventh hour

at the last moment that it is still possible to do something

Ex: The deal was saved at the eleventh hour. 
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the small hours

used to refer to early morning hours or the hours after the midnight

Ex: They kept talking into the small hours. 
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a day late and a dollar short

something that appears or arrives too late to be of any use or benefit

Ex: His apology was a day late and a dollar short. 
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to [be] too little, too late

to be not enough and offered after the right time has passed

Ex: The apology was too little, too late. 
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before the ink [is] [dry]

right after the finalization of a deal, agreement, etc.

Ex: Before the ink was dry, both sides were arguing about the agreement. 
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the last minute

the final moment or deadline to do something

Ex: Do not leave everything until the last minute. 
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