Meaning

"It's about time" means something should have happened already, and it's finally happening, or it needs to happen now. The feeling is relief mixed with impatience. "The city fixed the potholes on our street. It's about time" means they took far too long.

Grammar trap: when a clause follows, the verb goes into the past tense even though you mean now. "It's about time we left" means "We should leave now." "It's about time you called your mother" means "You should call her, and you're late doing it."

It's informal, and the tone depends on who it's aimed at. About yourself ("It's about time I bought new shoes") it's harmless and a bit funny. About a slow company or a late bus, it's a normal complaint. Aimed at a person who has just arrived late, "It's about time you showed up" is sarcastic and can sound rude, even as a joke. If you're genuinely glad someone came, try "Glad you made it." instead.

In a conversation

AnanyaHarry
  1. Ananya
  2. Harry
  3. Ananya
  4. Harry
  5. Ananya

Say it out loud

Tap a sentence to hear it. Say it after the voice.

Check yourself

1"It's about time we went home." What does the speaker mean?
2A friend arrives thirty minutes late. Which reply is the friendliest?

Practice · 3 min

Listen, then repeat. Put the weight on "about" and "time". When a sentence follows, keep the verb in the past.

Say it today

Use it once in a real conversation before tomorrow. Out loud counts, even to yourself.