THE IDIOM COLLECTION LEARN & PRACTISE
Time flies
Understand the meaning. See it in context. Make it yours.
01 / UNDERSTAND
Meaning in plain English
Time seems to pass surprisingly quickly.
02 / SEE IT IN CONTEXT
The expression in a sentence
- Time flies when we are planning stories together.
03 / CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING
Quick idiom quiz
Try the question without looking back, then write a sentence of your own. You can retry as often as you like.
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Can you recall the expression?
Complete the example using the expression from this lesson.
________ when we are planning stories together.
Show the answer
Time flies — Time seems to pass surprisingly quickly.
Try your own sentence (optional)
Make it yours
Write one sentence using “Time flies” about your own life.
Check your sentence
Does your sentence match this meaning?
Time seems to pass surprisingly quickly.
Compare: Time flies when we are planning stories together.
Check the spelling and how the expression fits the sentence. Your example can be different.
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More ways to understand and use it
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When to use it
Use this conversational saying when you notice how quickly an activity or a period has passed. It often expresses surprise or enjoyment, depending on the context.
More examples in context
- Is it already the final lesson? Time flies!
- Time flies during our weekend cooking sessions, and suddenly it is lunchtime.
Usage note
Time is singular here, so use flies, not fly. The past form is time flew. The expression describes your impression of time passing; it does not mean that a clock has changed speed.
A short conversation
A: We have been practising for an hour.
B: Already? Time flies when the discussion is interesting.
A: Let’s take a short break.
One more practice question
What does “Time flies!” express after an enjoyable class?
A. Surprise that the time seemed to pass quickly.
B. A claim that the classroom clock physically moved faster.
Check your answer
A. The phrase describes how the passing time feels to the speaker.
Related lessons
Meaning and usage checked against Cambridge Dictionary. Explanations, examples and conversation are original.