meɪk ʌp fɔːr lɒst taɪm
Time
neutral
intermediate
- Literally:
- to compensate for time that was lost
What does "make up for lost time" mean?
to do something faster or more intensely to compensate for a period of inactivity
Examples
- After being sick for a week, she worked overtime to make up for lost time.
- They hadn't seen each other in years and spent the whole evening making up for lost time.
- The construction crew worked weekends to make up for lost time caused by the storm.
Origin
Used in English since at least the 17th century.
How to use it
Used both for practical time recovery and emotional reconnection.
Similar expressions
catch up
compensate
recover lost ground
Opposites
fall further behind
waste more time
Related idioms
- in the long run
Over a long period of time
- better late than never
It's better to do something late than not to do it at all
- from time to time
occasionally, not regularly
- in the nick of time
Just in time; at the last possible moment
- run out of time
to have no more time left to do something
- time flies when you're having fun
Enjoyable moments seem to pass quickly
Use it in a practice answer
Try "make up for lost time" in a CELPIP-style Speaking or Writing task. The AI feedback tells you whether your word choice worked.