Word endings and depths

My next two archive posts are

To the nth degree (where I mainly discuss words ending -th)

and Going Down!  This was my first attempt at a Daily Prompt.  I made life difficult for myself by keeping my regular style of blogging and avoiding three-letter words!

Now any responses I make to the Daily Prompt appear on my other blog, Sue’s Trifles.

My second archive post ends with a Psalm, which may be helpful for people suffering with anxiety and depression.  This week is Mental Health Awareness Week.

On time (Part 5)

I am just going outside and may be some time.

These were the last words of Captain Oates, who died on Scott’s expedition to the South Pole.  He did not intend to return.  Is this an example of the traditional British understatement?

The passage of time is not exactly a corridor.  Passage here means passing.

Having time on one’s hands is the opposite of not having a spare minute.

Time hanging heavy on one’s hands could be a symptom of depression.

While away the time means find something to do while time passes.  (It will pass whether or not!) 

Staying power is an expression meaning perseverance or stamina.

The end of time is a similar concept to the end of the world.

In the dim and distant past is a cliché indicating that memories fade as time goes by – a famous song title.

Once upon a time is the traditional opening of a fairytale.  The same idea is used in French.  Il était un fois…

Like waiting for paint to dry describes any occasion where patience is needed for something to be finished, over which the person waiting has no control.

In the long run means in the distant future.

To stand the test of time requires something to last and not be a passing fashion or fad.

Time marches on may be a reminder to do something.  It is a truism.

Killing time involves doing something inconsequential while waiting for something else to happen.  I linked it with another expression here.

It’s going to be a long night.  Nights may have a different length depending on the time of year, but that is not the consideration here.  The time is going to seem to pass slowly due to circumstances.

One’s allotted time is one’s lifespan.

His days are numbered means he has not long to live, although this is not what was meant in the Bible.  There the message is that only God knows how many days we have.

The effects of Anno Domini  include aging.  Anno Domini is Latin for the year of the Lord.  It follows on from B.C. (before Christ).  The phrase is a jocular use of the measurement of time.

In this year of grace is an old-fashioned way of introducing the date.  Grace is a big subject.  Books have been written about it.  CS Lewis suggested that it is grace which makes Christianity different from other religions.

John 1:14-18 is a taster.