Time expressions – English vocabulary
33 words · English vocabulary · Created by OpenQuiz Team
33 English words with meanings: (in a) jiffy, (in a) mo, (in a) sec, (in a) tick, if I recall… Study them with flashcards, quizzes and AI speaking practice…
Part of the learning path: Vocabulary in Daily Life - Advance
Word list
- (in a) jiffy /ɪn ə 'dʒɪfi/ (phrase) — in a very short time
Example:I'll be back in a jiffy.
Synonyms: right away, very soon - (in a) mo /ɪn ə 'moʊ/ (phrase) — in a very short time
Example:I'll be there in a mo.
Synonyms: soon, momentarily, shortly - (in a) sec /ɪn ə sɛk/ (phrase) — in a very short time
Example:I'll call you in a sec.
Synonyms: soon, momentarily, shortly - (in a) tick /ɪn ə tɪk/ (phrase) — in a very short time
Example:I'll be back in a tick.
Synonyms: soon, momentarily, shortly - if I recall (phrase) — if I remember correctly
Example:If I recall, the meeting starts at noon.
Synonyms: if I remember correctly, as I recall, if memory serves - immediate /ɪ'mi:diət/ (adjective) — happening or done without delay
Example:We need an immediate answer.
Synonyms: instant, prompt, rapid - in a flash /ɪn ə flæʃ/ (phrase) — very quickly and suddenly
Example:The answer came to me in a flash.
Synonyms: instantly, very quickly - in less than no time /ɪn lɛs ðæn noʊ taɪm/ (phrase) — very quickly, in a very short time
Example:The job was finished in less than no time.
Synonyms: very quickly, almost instantly - it’s all coming back to me now (phrase) — I suddenly remember it clearly now
Example:It's all coming back to me now.
Synonyms: I remember now, it is becoming clear, I can recall it now - lengthy /'lɛŋkθi/ (adjective) — lasting for a long time
Example:We had a lengthy meeting this morning.
Synonyms: long, extended, prolonged - lingering /'lɪŋɡərɪŋ/ (adjective) — staying for a long time after the main thing has gone
Example:The lingering smell of smoke filled the room.
Synonyms: lasting, persistent, remaining - meet a deadline /mi:t ə 'dedlaɪn/ (phrase) — to finish something by the required time
Example:We need to meet a deadline by Friday.
Synonyms: finish on time, make the deadline, submit on time - night shift /'naɪt ʃɪft/ (phrase) — the work period that happens during the night
Example:She works the night shift at the hospital.
Synonyms: overnight shift, graveyard shift, third shift - on-the-spot /,ɒn ðə 'spɒt/ (adjective) — done immediately at the place where something happens
Example:The police issued an on-the-spot fine.
Synonyms: immediate, instant - once in a blue moon /wʌns ɪn ə blu: mu:n/ (idiom) — very rarely
Example:We only go out for dinner once in a blue moon.
Synonyms: rarely, seldom, hardly ever - overnight /,oʊvər'naɪt/ (adverb) — lasting through the night
Example:We stayed overnight at my aunt's house.
Synonyms: through the night, for the night - pedestrian (adj.) /pə'di:striən/ (adjective) — ordinary and boring, with no special interest
Example:The speech was pedestrian and dull.
Synonyms: boring, ordinary, uninspired - prolong /prə'lɔ:ŋ/ (verb) — to make something last longer
Example:We need to prolong the meeting by ten minutes.
Synonyms: extend, lengthen, draw out - protracted /prə'træktɪd/ (adjective) — lasting for a long time
Example:The drought caused a protracted crisis.
Synonyms: extended, prolonged, lengthy - remember rightly (phrase) — to remember something correctly
Example:If I remember rightly, we met in June.
Synonyms: if I recall correctly, as I remember, to the best of my memory - resume /rɪ'zju:m/ (verb) — to begin again after stopping
Example:We will resume the meeting after lunch.
Synonyms: restart, continue, pick up - short-term /,ʃɔ:rt'tɝ:m/ (adjective) — lasting for only a brief time
Example:This is only a short-term fix.
Synonyms: temporary, brief, short-lived - since the year dot /sɪns ðə jɪr dɑ:t/ (idiom) — for a very long time, from long ago
Example:This tradition has been around since the year dot.
Synonyms: for ages, for a very long time, since ancient times - start-up /'stɑ:rt,ʌp/ (noun) — a new business that is just beginning and often has fast growth
Example:Their start-up grew quickly in its first year.
Synonyms: new business, young company, venture - take you back to (phrase) — to make someone remember a past time or feeling
Example:This song takes me back to summer vacation.
Synonyms: remind you of, bring back memories of, evoke - think back (phrase) — to remember and consider something from the past
Example:Think back to your first day at school.
Synonyms: recall, look back, remember - thinking back (phrase) — the act of remembering and considering the past
Example:Thinking back, I should have said yes.
Synonyms: on reflection, looking back, in retrospect - till the cows come home /tɪl ðə kaʊz kʌm hoʊm/ (idiom) — for a very long time, without stopping
Example:They argued till the cows come home.
Synonyms: forever, indefinitely, endlessly - transient /'trænziənt/ (adjective) — lasting only a short time
Example:The flower's beauty is transient.
Synonyms: temporary, brief, short-lived - up-to-the-minute /,ʌp tə ðə 'mɪnɪt/ (adjective) — completely current and very recent
Example:Her news is always up-to-the-minute.
Synonyms: current, latest, up-to-date
…and 3 more words in this set.
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