mɑːrk taɪm
Time
neutral
advanced
- Literally:
- to mark or count time by marching in place
What does "mark time" mean?
- to wait without making progress
- to go through the motions without advancing
Examples
- She felt like she was just marking time at her job, with no chance of promotion.
- The team has been marking time while waiting for the new manager to start.
- He's marking time in his current role until a better opportunity comes along.
Origin
A military term from the 18th century meaning to march in place without moving forward.
How to use it
Implies frustration or dissatisfaction with a lack of progress.
Similar expressions
tread water
wait around
stagnate
Opposites
make progress
advance
move forward
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
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