IdiomDaily Life
English
Englishmark time
Meaning: To wait out one's time by doing the minimum and without progressing.
Example: “With no budget approved, the department is just marking time.”
Origin: From military drill, where soldiers march in place without moving forward on the command "Mark time!" The figurative sense of passing time without progress is recorded from the 19th century.
More English idioms
- method to one's madness Explanation; forethought or logic.
- nix something To cancel an idea or plan; to reject or forbid something.
- none of one's business Private; not for anybody else to know.
- nothing to write home about Ordinary; so-so; not especially good or important.
- not worth a dime Worthless.
- not worth a plugged nickel Worthless.
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