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time flies

Idioms  
  1. Time passes quickly, as in It's midnight already? Time flies when you're having fun, or I guess it's ten years since I last saw you—how time flies. This idiom was first recorded about 1800 but Shakespeare used a similar phrase, “the swiftest hours, as they flew,” as did Alexander Pope, “swift fly the years.”


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

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But that time flies by, akin to a cozy night in with an episode binge.

From Los Angeles Times Dec. 20, 2024

The old saying "time flies when you're having fun" is an easy way to think about the idea of post-concert amnesia.

From BBC Jun. 1, 2023

Conventional wisdom tells us that life is short, time flies and there are never enough hours in the day.

From New York Times Dec. 7, 2022

This walk to Capitol Hill might seem long, but because of the interesting setting and change in neighborhoods, time flies and you’ll be there in no time.

From Seattle Times Jan. 27, 2022

“Don’t they say that time flies when you are happy?”

From "Purple Hibiscus" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

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