English Vocabulary in Use: Advanced Book with Answers and Enhanced eBook Vocabulary Reference and Practice 3rd Edition

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126
English Vocabulary in Use Advanced
Time: once in a blue moon
60
Informal expressions relating to time
We only meet 
once in a blue moon. 
[very infrequently]
He’s spent 
all his born days in the village. 
[all his life]
I’ll be with you 
in a mo / in a sec / in a tick / in less than 
no time / in a jiffy. 
[very soon]
(
mo and sec are short for 
‘moment’ and ‘second’)
Clive’s been working here 
for donkey’s years / since the 
year dot. 
[for a long time]
We can talk about this 
till the cows come home, but I’m 
not going to change my mind. 
[for ever]
Are you sure she gave you the book 
for keeps / for good? 
[to keep for ever]
She turned up just 
in the nick of time – she very nearly missed the train. 
[only just in time]
He was a famous athlete but now he’s 
over the hill / past it. 
[too old]
She was a child film star but was already a 
has-been by the age of 20. 
[person who is no longer famous]
Sue did her homework 
in a flash / at a rate of knots. 
[very quickly]
Adjectives relating to the passing of time
adjective
meaning
common collocations
fleeting
brief or quick
glimpse, visit, smile, moment, appearance
lengthy
continuing for a long time
process, investigation, discussions, negotiations, 
delays
transient
lasting for only a short time; 
formal
effect, population, feeling, pleasure
persistent
lasting for a long time or hard to stop 
or get rid of
cough, problems, rumour, smell, accusations, 
critic, offender, failure, gossip