Hi. I'm Rebecca from engVid. In this lesson, you will learn ten idioms of
time. So, these expressions are used in all kinds of situations, whether they're
general, whether they're social situations or business contexts; you
might hear them anywhere. So, it is very useful to be able to understand them,
first of all — that's the most important thing you want to be able to do when you
learn idioms; and then when you're really sure of the meaning and how to
use them, you can also start to use them yourself. Okay? So, let's look at what
they are. So, the first one: "in a heartbeat". Let me give you an example.
"Life can change in a heartbeat." So, what do you think that means? It means
life can change immediately; instantly. For example, right now, you decided to
watch this video, instead of doing something else. You decided to improve
your English in a heartbeat. Okay? You can make that decision in a heartbeat.
Just like a heart, beats fast, right? Beats very quickly; not necessarily
fast, but quickly. In the same way, this expression means quickly; instantly. All
right? Next, let's look at the next one. Number two: "around the clock". I'll
give you a sentence; see if you understand. "They deliver pizza around
the clock." Okay? What do you think that means? "Around the clock". So, it means
24 hours a day. Okay? They deliver pizza at any time of the day or night; "around
the clock". All right? That's the meaning of "around the clock" -- 24
hours a day. Good.
"As we speak" — let me give you an example. "They are signing the deal as
we speak. They're negotiating the deal as we speak." So, what do you think that
means: "as we speak"? It means right now. Right now, as I'm talking to you,
this is happening somewhere. So, "as we speak" means right now, at this moment.
Usually it's talking about something that's happening somewhere else, while
you are in one place. Okay? So, for example: "They're signing the deal as we
speak." That means: As we are speaking, they are doing that right now. Okay?
Let's look at number four: "against the clock". Okay. "We are working against
the clock to finish this presentation." All right? What do you think that means?
And look at the way that I'm speaking; there's a little bit of anxiety here,
right? So, when you're "working against the clock", you have a deadline, and
you're trying to finish something before that deadline; before that time limit.
Okay? So, you're working against the clock; you're working really hard to
finish something because you have a deadline, and you have to finish by that
time. All right? Let's say you have to get in an application by a certain time,
or you have to finish your presentation by a certain time because you're meeting
your client in the morning. So, you're working really hard, and you're working
against the clock. You don't have enough time; you wish you had more time, but
you're working against the clock. It means you're working to a deadline. All
right. And "at the eleventh hour" or "the eleventh hour". So, let's say...
let's take this example forward, let's say you were working against the clock
all night long in order to finish your application or your presentation, and
then finally at the eleventh hour, you finished everything. Okay? So, what does
that mean: "at the eleventh hour"? Means, like, just before the deadline.
Okay? At the last minute. That's the meaning of "the eleventh hour", okay? At
the last minute, or just before the deadline; just before the time limit. "I
finished it at the eleventh hour." Okay? Or you could say, for example... Some
students wait to study at the eleventh hour before an exam. They don't study
all through the year; they wait till the eleventh hour to study really hard and
crazy. Not recommended. Okay? But it means they wait, like, till the very
end.
So, let's review these first five. Okay? So, if I want to say that something's
happening right now, I'm talking to you and something's happening — so which one
is that? Number three, right. "As we speak". "It's happening as we speak."
And suppose you say: "Things can change just like that." Which one is that?
"Things can change in a heartbeat." Good. And if you want to say that... if
you managed to finish something at the last minute, you could say: "I finished
it at the eleventh hour." Okay? And suppose you want to order pizza, so
you're going to... but it's like three o'clock in the morning, so you're
looking for a restaurant that delivers at any time; that delivers "around the
clock". Right? Good. And let's say you're under pressure to finish
something before a deadline, so you are working "against the clock"; number
four. Okay? Now, the way to remember these is to apply them; not just to
listen, which is good. You could also note down... lots of our viewers are
actually writing these down and making their own notes, making their own
sentences, making their own examples — that's the best thing you can do. Apply
it to your life. Think about a time when you were working against the clock,
think about a situation, or a restaurant, or something in your
neighbourhood that's open around the clock; things like that. Apply it. Apply
it to your life, apply it to the life of people you know to make it your own, so
you really understand it. Okay? Let's go on.
Number six: "He woke up at the crack of dawn." Okay? "He woke up at the crack of
dawn to study before his exam." Any idea? So, for that, you need to know
what the word "dawn" means. So, "dawn" is when the sun is just starting to
appear. Okay? It's very, very early morning. So, "he woke up at the crack of
dawn" means very early in the morning; like, maybe — I don't know — four
o'clock, five o'clock, whatever it is. Okay? It just means very early in the
morning. Let's look at the next one. Are you with me? Good, good. Number seven:
"ahead of time". Okay. "He always arrives ahead of time before an exam.
She always appeared... arrived ahead of time before an interview." What do you
think it means? "Ahead of time" means before the required time. She
required... arrived early. In other words, it means early. Okay? So, "ahead
of time" means early. Next, let's look at number eight: "Behind the times".
Okay? There's an "s" here. "Behind the times". So, we could say: "He's a little
bit behind the times — he doesn't use email; he writes actual letters. He has
a flip phone and not a smartphone. He's a little bit behind the times." Okay?
That means not up to date; a little bit old-fashioned, not using the latest
technology, not having the latest ideas. Okay? So, this is "behind the times".
Next: "Out of time". Let me give you an example: "The teacher asked me to submit
my exam paper right away because I was out of time." The teacher collected my
exam paper, and she said... I want... I really wanted to finish, but she said:
"Sorry, you're out of time." So, what does it mean to be "out of time"? To not
have any time left. Okay? No time left; you're out of time. You have no time
left for something. Okay? All right. And the last one: "Just in time". Okay? That
means before, but at the last minute. For example: "We arrived just in time to
catch the flight." Or: "We arrived just in time for the meeting." Or: "We
arrived just in time for the wedding; otherwise, we would have missed it". "We
arrived just in time for the movie; it was about to start." Okay? So, just
before something important was supposed to happen — if you arrive then, for
example, then that would be "just in time". All right? Good. Are you still
with me? Good for you.
Let's review these a little bit. So, if someone always arrives early, they
arrive when? Which of these last five? Have a look. They arrive "ahead of
time". Good. Okay? Very good. And you have no time left; you can't work on
your exam paper anymore, you can't work on your presentation anymore. You have
no time left. You are what? Which of these? You are "out of time". Yes, I
heard you; good for you. All right. Let's suppose you have a lot of work to
do, so... or you're just kind of a very super-healthy person, and you like to
wake up really early in the morning. You like to meditate or you like to
exercise, or something like that. So, when do you wake up? You wake up when?
At the "crack of dawn" — very, very early in the morning. Okay. And let's
suppose you arrive somewhere before... the last minute before something
important happens. Then you arrive, which one? "Just in time". Right. And
what did we leave out? Okay. All right. So, let's suppose somebody is not using
the latest technology, not using the latest equipment, and so on. That person
would be what? "Behind the times". Okay? So, again, if you want to remember them
— write, think. Think to yourself: "Do I know someone who's behind the times?
Yes." Okay? "Do I know someone who always arrives ahead of time?" Write
that... Write that down; make it relevant to something that you can...
can relate to. Okay? Something that makes sense to you and that you always
understand. Connect the two. That's what learning is: Connecting new knowledge to
something you already have. And that way, you remember much better. Okay.
It's a memory technique. All right.
So, if you would like to practice these, of course, what you should do — go to
our website at www.engvid.com; and there you can do a full quiz on this. And if
you want to go even further to improve your English, please check out my
English course, "Correct Your English Errors"... "Correct Your English Errors
in Ten Minutes a Day". And there you'll have a chance to improve all aspects of
your English very easily and quickly, like I said, in about ten minutes a day.
All right? There are 60 lessons; all kinds of mistakes in grammar,
vocabulary, pronunciation — and you have a chance to improve. Just like you took
time now, you can take time on a regular basis and really improve your English.
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best with your English. Bye for now.