Idioms about: Time & Travel

Navigating the phrases that pass the time.

Showing 51-59 of 59

Generated image of a woman voting with her feet

Vote with your feet

To vote with your feet means to show what you prefer by your actions.

The phrase became common in the 1900s and is often used in politics, workplaces, and public events. It refers to the idea that people can express their choices through their actions, much like casting a vote.

When the restaurant raised its prices again, many customers voted with their feet and started eating somewhere else.

Generated image of someone walking along a chalk line

Walk a fine line

To walk a fine line, or sometimes to walk a tightrope, means to act very carefully in a situation where a small mistake could cause problems. This idiom can be used to describe trying to balance between two opposing pressures.

The phrase comes from the image of walking along a very narrow line, where losing balance even slightly could lead to a fall. Over time it became a metaphor for handling a delicate or risky situation.

As a manager, she has to walk a fine line between being friendly with the team and enforcing the rules.

Generated image of a salesman and unimpressed customer

Wasn't born yesterday

If a person says I was not born yesterday it means they understand what is really going on and will not be tricked.

The phrase became common in American English in the early 1900s. It plays on the idea that someone born yesterday would have no experience of the world and would believe anything they were told.

Do you really expect me to believe that story? I wasn't born yesterday.

Photo of water flowing under a bridge

Water under the bridge

The idiom water under the bridge draws from the concept of water flowing under a bridge, and once it has gone past it will never go past again. When you use this phrase, you are talking about events or feelings that are now in the past and cannot be changed, so you shouldn't dwell on them anymore.

The two neigbours decided to let their past disagreements be water under the bridge.

Photo of Rome

When in Rome

The idiom when in Rome, do as the Romans do means that when you are a visitor, either to another country or just someone else's house or working in their business, you should adapt to how everyone behaves and try and fit in as a mark of respect.

Everyone else was taking their shoes off, so when in Rome, do as the Romans do.

Photo of a field of cows

When the cows come home

The idiom when the cows come home means for a very long time, often longer than expected.
The phrase comes from farm life, where cows really like being out in the fields, so they come home as late as they can.

They can argue until the cows come home, but it won't change anything.

Photo of morning light

While the day is young

While the day is young means early in the day, when there is still plenty of time left to do things. People use it when they want to start something before the day becomes busy.

The expression comes from the idea of comparing the day to a living thing that begins young in the morning and grows older as time passes. The phrase has been used in English for many centuries.

Let's go for a walk while the day is young.

Generated image of a treasure map

X marks the spot

The phrase X marks the spot means a place is exactly where something is hidden or located. If you are building something or about to plant a tree and marking the place you are going to dig a hole, you might jokingly say "X marks the spot".

This idiom originated from pirate maps, where an X was used to mark where treasure was buried.

We finally found the old well - X marks the spot.

Photo of an odometer

Your milage may vary

Your mileage may vary means that different people may have different results or experiences when doing the same thing. It says that what worked for one person might not work the same way for another.

This idiom comes from car advertisements in the United States. Fuel economy could change depending on driving style, road conditions, and vehicle use, so ads included the note your mileage may vary.

This trick helped me save time when cooking, but your mileage may vary.