lose time

Idioms  

1. Operate too slowly. For example, My watch loses time , or This clock loses five minutes a day . This usage is always applied to a timepiece. [Mid-1800s]

2. Waste time, delay, as in We wanted to paint the entire porch today, but we lost time trying to find a color that matched the house . This expression is sometimes put negatively as lose no time , meaning “act immediately” or “not delay,” as in We must lose no time in getting him to the hospital . [Late 1500s] Also see make up for lost time .

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Example Sentences

“I’m just afraid that we will lose time while the new team comes to understand what is happening.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 9, 2026

“The patchwork of jurisdictions makes it so hard to get started on these investigations. And when you lose time, your chances of solving these cases goes down,” said Assistant Secretary of Interior Bryan Newland.

From Seattle Times • Sep. 20, 2023

"These workers, who are overwhelmingly Black workers, immigrant workers, and women, literally can't afford to take breaks or lose time to take care of their health," she explained.

From Salon • Jul. 19, 2023

But I just don't like to lose time with finding excuses, because that's exactly when you start to you start to lose time, and you just don't go forward.

From BBC • Aug. 3, 2022

He knew that wherever the trackers lost his path they must circle and lose time before they found it again.

From "The Pearl" by John Steinbeck