Meaning
Something should have happened earlier; now is the right moment
Primary Function
Expressing mild reproach or urgency
Communicative Purpose
To indicate that an action is overdue or should take place immediately
Pattern
It is; time
Core Structure
It is; time
Função primária
Expressing mild reproach or urgency
Propósito comunicativo
To indicate that an action is overdue or should take place immediately
Situações de gatilho
Prodding someone, expressing impatience, making a point about delay
Contextos
Conversation, informal meetings, opinion articles
Padrão
It is; time
Estrutura central
It is; time
Slots de substituição
Degree modifier (high, about), subject, verb
Colocados típicos
- high time
- about time
- it's time
- followed by we went
- you started
- etc.
Substituições comuns
- It’s time to + infinitive – It’s time to leave.
Erros comuns
Using present tense after ‘it’s time’: *It’s time we go* → went. Using the to‑infinitive: *It’s time we to go*. Misusing modal verbs such as should/ought to in place of past simple.
Similar / contraste
I think it’s about time we…, Hadn’t we better…?
Interferências
Many languages use an infinitival construction or a different auxiliary (e.g., French uses ‘il est temps de’) which can lead learners to insert unnecessary modals or change aspect from perfective to imperfective.
Família do chunk
- unreal-past time frames
Nuance
'high time' conveys stronger impatience and urgency, whereas 'about time' suggests something long overdue but less urgent.
Efeito pragmático
Functions as indirect criticism or gentle push for action; signals that the speaker believes the situation should have been addressed earlier.
Dica de memória
It’s high time + past tense
Nota
The chunk uses the unreal past tense to express urgency or mild reproach for a delayed action.
Upgrade path
“It’s high time somebody did something about it”
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