Time-tested phrases

Time flies! Fun idioms that make every second count

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Clocks, alarms, calendars: since ancient times, humans have been finding ways to measure time. And because time plays such a central role in our lives, it’s no surprise that it’s also a key part of our everyday language, often without us even realizing it. From trying to "beat the clock" to learning to "hold our horses" or waiting for something that happens "once in a blue moon," today we’re exploring the origins and meanings of 10 time-related idioms you’ve probably never stopped to think about.

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"She kept pacing while waiting for the test results, but a watched pot never boils."

Remember that class in school that felt like it would never end? The more you watched the clock, the slower the minutes seemed to pass, making time feel like it stood still. That’s exactly when the idiom "a watched pot never boils" fits perfectly, capturing that impatient feeling we get when we’re desperately waiting for something to happen.

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"With the current mayor nearing retirement, several ambitious candidates are already waiting in the wings."

Theater has given us many of the idioms we use every day, most of them inspired by its traditions and stagecraft. The "wings," for example, are those areas on both sides of the stage, where actors stand before stepping into the spotlight. That’s where the expression "waiting in the wings" comes from; it describes someone who’s ready and poised for the perfect moment to act.

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"Don’t waste your morning scrolling through social media. Remember: time is money."

There’s one thing humanity has tried for ages but still hasn’t been able to achieve: turning back time. You can regret the past or wish with all your heart to relive it, but once time is gone, it’s gone. That’s where the popular saying "time is money" comes in, reminding us of the value of time and why we should use it wisely. Often credited to the brilliant Benjamin Franklin, it’s a phrase nearly everyone has heard or used at some point.

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"I told my friend to see a doctor when her cold started, because a stitch in time saves nine."

Originating from the world of sewing—where a quick stitch can stop a small tear from turning into a big rip—this idiom reminds us that the sooner we deal with a problem, the easier it is to fix. Do you live by that rule, or are you the type who waits until the hole in your shirt becomes impossible to ignore?

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"We go to the beach together once in a blue moon, but it’s always special."

In astronomy, a blue moon refers to the second full moon in a single calendar month. Despite the name, it has nothing to do with the moon’s color. Since this event happens only about once every two or three years, the expression "once in a blue moon" is used to describe something that occurs very rarely—or almost never.

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"The firefighters beat the clock and stopped the flames from spreading."

You wake up at 8:15 and need to be at the office by 9. If you actually make it, you can proudly say you "beat the clock." This expression, meaning to finish something just in time or before a deadline, likely originated in the world of sports, especially racing. But it really became popular thanks to the TV game show Beat the Clock, where contestants had to complete fun challenges before time ran out.

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"Grandpa had a whale of a time telling us his old adventure stories."

We’ve all had that moment after a fun night out with friends when you get home, smile to yourself, and think about how great the event was. That’s when you can say you had "a whale of a time." This expression dates back to the 19th century and uses the whale’s enormous size as a metaphor for the big, unforgettable experience you’ve just had.

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"I know you’re excited about the trip, but hold your horses until we finish packing."

You don’t have to live in the countryside to know that when you’re riding a horse or driving a cart, you need to pull on the reins to slow down or stop. That’s exactly what this idiom is about: patience and self-control. When someone tells you to "hold your horses," they’re suggesting that you should wait a moment or proceed more carefully in a situation.

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"She felt the time was ripe to tell her family about her plans."

No matter how hungry you are, if you take that delicious pie out of the oven too soon, it probably won’t turn out right. Sometimes, it’s better to wait for the perfect moment. Just like when harvesting fruit, you wait until it’s fully ripe before picking it. That’s exactly what the idiom "the time is ripe" communicates: it’s the right moment to take action.

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"I’ll hang fire on making my decision until I’ve spoken with everyone involved."

Back in the 17th century, things weren’t like they are today; even firearms worked differently. Flintlock guns, for example, sometimes had a delay between pulling the trigger and the bullet firing. This specific malfunction gave rise to the idiom "hang fire," which refers to any situation or person that is delayed or hesitant.

Success stories

You won't believe it: These 10 brands made millions from just one product

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You don't need a bunch of different ideas to achieve success, and history proves it! Many iconic brands built their entire empires around just one product. From classic Velcro to modern-day Crocs, join us as we explore 10 companies that turned a single idea into a global success story.

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Some say they are "ugly," but Crocs definitely revolutionized casual footwear. In 2002, three friends discovered Croslite, a lightweight, flexible, spongy, yet durable material. They quickly realized its slip-resistant qualities made it perfect for boating shoes. When they first launched Crocs, they sold out their entire stock, and over the years, the brand grew into a global footwear leader.

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Many of us were lucky enough to play with interlocking plastic blocks as kids. And maybe even as adults, why not? When we think of plastic blocks, LEGO instantly comes to mind. This Danish brand, founded in 1934, turned this seemingly simple product into a global icon of play.

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Earl Tupper built an empire on an innovative idea: multi-purpose plastic containers with airtight seals. In the 1940s, Tupper developed the first versions, and by the end of the decade, the product was already a huge success. And it remains popular to this day, so much so that the product is often called simply by the brand name.

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Although it may seem simple, the hook-and-loop fastener we know today revolutionized the design of many products, especially clothing and shoes. Swiss engineer George de Mestral had the brilliant idea in 1941 after returning from a hiking trip, when he noticed burrs clinging to his clothes and his dog's fur. He studied the phenomenon, developed the fastening system, and then patented it in 1955 under the name Velcro.

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Like Velcro, Play-Doh's flagship product was created by accident. The modeling clay children around the world love actually began in the mid-1950s as a sticky substance to clean wallpaper, invented by Noel McIntyre, a salesman for a soap company. But fate had other plans, and this single product became the foundation for a giant company dedicated to children's toys.

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One of the most beloved tools for students, office workers, researchers, teachers, and many others around the world is the Post-it note. This clever invention came from scientists Spencer Silver and Art Fry. Silver discovered a reusable adhesive in 1968, and in 1974, Fry found the perfect use for it: sticky notes. That single idea built a brand that remains a market leader to this day.

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Zippo became world famous thanks to a single product: its lighters, which many consider the best on the market. They were invented in 1932 by George G. Blaisdell in Pennsylvania, after he was inspired by an Austrian lighter he owned. While it worked well, it was awkward to handle, so Blaisdell improved the design, making it more durable, windproof, and easy to use. His finishing touch was the addition of the now-iconic flip-top lid.

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Although spandex fabric is now part of everyday life, it didn't exist until 1958, when it was invented by a chemist. While it has been popular in various garments over the years, the brand that truly harnessed its potential was Spanx. Founded in 2000 by then-27-year-old saleswoman Sara Blakely, Spanx focused on shapewear and built a billion-dollar company from that single product.

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The world would be a much noisier and more frustrating place without WD-40. It was invented in 1953 by scientist Norm Larsen, who was trying to develop a water displacement formula to prevent rust on aerospace parts. After 40 tries, Larsen got it right, hence the name WD-40. What started as a tool for NASA and the military eventually became a household staple!

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In the 1980s, Red Bull popularized and practically created an entirely new product category: the energy drink. Developed by Austrian entrepreneur Dietrich Mateschitz, Red Bull was inspired by an Asian beverage known for its energizing properties, and it went on to become a huge brand and a global sensation.