Idiom
Time flies
Time flies means time seems to pass very quickly, often faster than you expected.
How people use it
People say "time flies" when they suddenly notice how much time has gone by, at a birthday, a reunion or the end of a busy day. The longer form "time flies when you're having fun" suggests that enjoyable hours feel short, and people also say it jokingly about something dull. Typical patterns are "Time flies" on its own, "Time really flies" and "How time flies." It is informal and friendly and works well in speech, cards and messages. It is about time feeling fast, not about being late.
Also said: time flies when you're having fun, how time flies.
Examples
- Time flies: it feels like we just moved here, and it has been five years.
- Can you believe the semester is over already? Time really flies.
- We played board games until midnight, because time flies when you're having fun.
Where it comes from
The idea goes back to the Latin phrase "tempus fugit," meaning "time flees," which comes from a line by the Roman poet Virgil. The Latin words became a popular motto on clocks and sundials, and English writers have used "time flies" for centuries. The longer "time flies when you're having fun" is a much more recent addition from the 1900s.
Check yourself
1. At your tenth anniversary party, a friend says, "Time flies." What does she mean?
Answer: The years went by quickly. Time flies means time has passed faster than it seemed.
2. Which sentence uses the idiom correctly?
Answer: Time flies, and suddenly the kids are in high school.. The idiom fits time passing quickly, like children growing up fast.
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