How do you use "time flies" in a sentence?

Time flies when you're having fun. I can't believe it's already December — time flies! Time really flies when you're busy.

time flies

Q: What does "time flies" mean?

Time seems to pass very quickly We say 'time flies' not 'time runs' or 'time rushes'. 'Flies' is the specific verb that collocates with time to express how quickly it seems to pass, especially when you're enjoying yourself.

Collocation BritishAmericanAustralian ★★★★★ Very Common Neutral

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Meaning: Time seems to pass very quickly

时光飞逝

el tiempo vuela

時が経つのは早い

시간이 빨리 지나가다

We say 'time flies' not 'time runs' or 'time rushes'. 'Flies' is the specific verb that collocates with time to express how quickly it seems to pass, especially when you're enjoying yourself.

我们说'time flies'而不是'time runs'或'time rushes'。'Flies'是与time搭配的特定动词，用来表达时间过得很快，特别是当你在享受快乐时光的时候。

Decimos 'time flies' y no 'time runs' ni 'time rushes'. 'Flies' es el verbo específico que acompaña a time para expresar lo rápido que parece pasar, especialmente cuando uno se lo pasa bien.

「time flies」と言い、「time runs」や「time rushes」とは言いません。「flies」は時間がどれだけ早く過ぎるかを表すためにtimeと一緒に使う特定の動詞で、特に楽しんでいるときに使います。

'time flies'라고 하며 'time runs'나 'time rushes'라고 하지 않습니다. 'Flies'는 시간이 빨리 지나가는 것을 표현할 때 time과 함께 쓰는 특정 동사로, 특히 즐거운 시간을 보낼 때 사용합니다.

Examples

Time flies when you're having fun.
快乐的时光总是过得很快。
El tiempo vuela cuando te lo pasas bien.
楽しい時は時間が経つのが早いです。
즐거울 때는 시간이 빨리 지나갑니다.
I can't believe it's already December — time flies!
不敢相信已经十二月了——时光飞逝！
No puedo creer que ya sea diciembre, ¡el tiempo vuela!
もう12月だなんて信じられません——時が経つのは早い！
벌써 12월이라니 믿을 수 없어요 — 시간이 정말 빨리 지나가네요!
Time really flies when you're busy.
忙的时候时间过得真快。
El tiempo vuela cuando estás ocupado.
忙しいと時間が経つのが本当に早いです。
바쁠 때는 시간이 정말 빨리 지나갑니다.

Pronunciation

Usage Guide

Context: reminiscing, surprise, aging

Tone: wistful

✓ Do Say

Time flies!
时光飞逝！
¡El tiempo vuela!
時が経つのは早い！
시간이 정말 빨리 가네요!
Time flies when you're having fun.
快乐的时光总是过得很快。
El tiempo vuela cuando te lo pasas bien.
楽しい時は時間があっという間に過ぎます。
즐거울 때는 시간이 빨리 지나갑니다.
Doesn't time fly?
时间过得真快，不是吗？
¿Verdad que el tiempo vuela?
時間が経つのは早くないですか？
시간이 빨리 가지 않나요?

✗ Don't Say

Time runs when you're having fun. (use 'flies' not 'runs' with time)
快乐的时候时间runs。（用'flies'而不是'runs'来搭配time）
El tiempo runs cuando te lo pasas bien. (se usa 'flies' y no 'runs' con time)
楽しい時にtime runsです。（timeには'runs'ではなく'flies'を使います）
즐거울 때 time runs 한다. (time에는 'runs'가 아니라 'flies'를 씁니다)
Time rushes when you're having fun. (use 'flies' not 'rushes' with time)
快乐的时候时间rushes。（用'flies'而不是'rushes'来搭配time）
El tiempo rushes cuando te lo pasas bien. (se usa 'flies' y no 'rushes' con time)
楽しい時にtime rushesです。（timeには'rushes'ではなく'flies'を使います）
즐거울 때 time rushes 한다. (time에는 'rushes'가 아니라 'flies'를 씁니다)

Origin & History

Natural English collocation — from the Latin 'tempus fugit'. Time is personified as something that moves with the speed of flight.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal