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

It’s one of those places where you just lose time.

From Salon

For McLaren, there will be questions about strategy, after they pitted Piastri early in the race when he was second behind Verstappen, albeit beginning to lose time.

From BBC

“We can yell if we need help. We gotta see which tunnel is the best one to go in, and we’d lose time checking each one out together. We’ve gotta split up.”

From Literature

Ferrari warned Leclerc "not to lose time" fighting Sainz for third and that his fight was with Norris behind, knowing that the extra grip from the fresher tyres would leave him helpless.

From BBC

The office is not as convenient as working from home, it takes too much time to get to the office, parents lose time with their children, offices are loud and finding reliable, affordable childcare is a challenge.

From Seattle Times