28 Idioms for Long Time

Understanding Time Through Idioms: A Colorful Language Exploration

When we talk about periods that seem to stretch endlessly or conclude in a flash, everyday language often falls short. To express these experiences, people turn to idioms—phrases that don’t literally mean what they say but convey concepts vividly and creatively.

Idioms add flair and life to dialogues, making simple statements impactful and memorable. For instance, saying “Eons have passed” feels more dramatic and effective than merely saying “a long time has gone by.”

In this guide, we explore various English idioms synonymous with “a long time,” enhancing both the way we speak and write. These idioms serve not just as tools for embellishment, but also to connect with listeners or readers on a more personal level.

Idioms Describing Extended Periods

1. Eons and eons

   • Meaning: Many years; almost timeless
   • In a Sentence: It’s been eons and eons since I last visited my hometown.
   • Variations: Ages and ages

2. Forever and ever

   • Meaning: An indefinite, prolonged period
   • In a Sentence: They danced the night away, seemingly forever and ever.
   • Variations: Endlessly

3. A lifetime

   • Meaning: An extremely long time, as long as a person’s life
   • In a Sentence: Waiting for the concert to start felt like a lifetime.
   • Variations: All my life

4. Since time immemorial

   • Meaning: From an indefinite past; ancient
   • In a Sentence: That law has been in effect since time immemorial.
   • Variations: Since the year dot

5. Till the end of time

   • Meaning: Forever, endlessly
   • In a Sentence: I will cherish these memories till the end of time.
   • Variations: Forevermore

6. Year in, year out

   • Meaning: Continuously over many years
   • In a Sentence: We’ve vacationed at that lake year in, year out.
   • Variations: Annually

7. An eternity

   • Meaning: An infinitely long period
   • In a Sentence: I waited for an eternity to hear back from the university.
   • Variations: Forever

8. The eleventh hour

   • Meaning: The last possible moment
   • In a Sentence: They finally reached a decision at the eleventh hour.
   • Variations: Last minute

Practice Exercises

Complete the following sentences using appropriate idioms from above to express long durations:

1. I haven’t cleaned out that storage room for ___.
2. He’s been working on that project since ___.
3. It took them ___ to finally agree on where to go for dinner.
4. She’s collected stamps ___ she was a child.
5. Every summer, without fail, they visit their grandparents ___.
6. The meeting dragged on for what felt like ___.
7. That old cinema has been showing classic films ___.
8. We’ve been best friends ___ we were toddlers.

Answer Key

1. eons and eons
2. since time immemorial
3. an eternity
4. since she was a child
5. year in, year out
6. an eternity
7. forever and ever
8. since we were toddlers

Conclusion

Learning and using idioms about prolonged time periods not only enriches our language but also provides a nuanced way to express feelings about duration and patience. These expressions capture more than just the passage of time; they capture experiences and emotions tied to waiting, enduring, and remembering. Incorporate these idioms into your daily conversations or writings to make your speech colorful and engaging. Always remember, the power of language lies in its ability to paint vivid pictures with words!