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C1 · Advanced15 min
Time and place idioms
Learn 5 words for thematic vocabulary: in the nick of time, once in a blue moon, a stone's throw, in the middle of nowhere, around the clock.
in the nick of time /ɪn ðə ˌnɪk əv ˈtaɪm/
в останній момент, w ostatniej chwili, im allerletzten Moment, en el último momento, au tout dernier moment, all'ultimo momento, no último momento, en son anda, في اللحظة الأخيرة, 在最后一刻, 最後の瞬間に, 마지막 순간에, आखिरी क्षण में, την τελευταία στιγμή, at the very last moment, chiar în ultimul moment, op het allerlaatste moment, i allra sista stund, ממש ברגע האחרון, სულ ბოლო მომენტში
Just before it would be too late.
“We reached the platform in the nick of time and caught the train.”
once in a blue moon /ˌwʌns ɪn ə bluː ˈmuːn/
вкрай рідко, niezwykle rzadkie, äußerst selten, extremadamente raro, extrêmement rare, estremamente raro, extremamente raro, son derece nadir, نادر للغاية, 极其罕见, 非常に珍しい, 극히 드물다, अत्यंत दुर्लभ, εξαιρετικά σπάνιο, extrémně vzácné, extrem de rare, uiterst zeldzaam, extremt sällsynt, נדיר ביותר, უკიდურესად იშვიათი
Very rarely.
“He lives abroad, so we see him once in a blue moon.”
a stone's throw /ə ˌstəʊnz ˈθrəʊ/
рукою подати, blisko na wyciągnięcie ręki, griffbereit, cerca de la mano, à portée de main, a portata di mano, perto da mão, elinizin altında, في متناول اليد, 近在咫尺, すぐ近くにある, 가까이에, हाथ में बंद करो, κοντά στο χέρι, close at hand, aproape la îndemână, dichtbij, nära till hands, קרוב בהישג יד, ახლოს ხელთ
A very short distance.
“The cottage is a stone's throw from the beach.”
in the middle of nowhere /ɪn ðə ˌmɪdəl əv ˈnəʊweə/
у глушині, na uboczu, abseits der ausgetretenen Pfade, fuera de lo común, hors des sentiers battus, fuori dai sentieri battuti, fora do caminho, alışılmışın dışında, خارج المسار المطروق, 不走寻常路, 人里離れた道から外れた, 사람의 발길이 닿지 않은 곳, लीक से हटकर, έξω από την πεπατημένη, off the beaten track, în afara drumurilor bătute, buiten de gebaande paden, utanför allfartsvägarna, מחוץ למסלול, ნაცემი ტრასიდან
In a remote place far from towns and other buildings.
“The car broke down in the middle of nowhere with no houses in sight.”
around the clock /əˌraʊnd ðə ˈklɒk/
цілодобово, całą dobę, rund um die Uhr, todo el día, 24 heures sur 24, tutto il giorno, 24 horas por dia, günün her saati, على مدار الساعة, 全天候, 24時間いつでも, 24시간 내내, चौबीस घंटे, όλο το εικοσιτετράωρο, nepřetržitě, non-stop, de klok rond, dygnet runt, מסביב לשעון, მთელი საათის განმავლობაში
Continuously throughout the day and night.
“Rescue teams worked around the clock to reach the trapped climbers.”
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Choose the word: Just before it would be too late.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: in the nick of time
in the nick of time: Just before it would be too late. Example: We reached the platform in the nick of time and caught the train.
Choose the word: Very rarely.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: once in a blue moon
once in a blue moon: Very rarely. Example: He lives abroad, so we see him once in a blue moon.
Choose the word: A very short distance.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: a stone's throw
a stone's throw: A very short distance. Example: The cottage is a stone's throw from the beach.
Choose the word: In a remote place far from towns and other buildings.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: in the middle of nowhere
in the middle of nowhere: In a remote place far from towns and other buildings. Example: The car broke down in the middle of nowhere with no houses in sight.
Choose the word: Continuously throughout the day and night.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: around the clock
around the clock: Continuously throughout the day and night. Example: Rescue teams worked around the clock to reach the trapped climbers.
Question 1 of 50% complete
Choose the word: Just before it would be too late.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: in the nick of time
in the nick of time: Just before it would be too late. Example: We reached the platform in the nick of time and caught the train.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: once in a blue moon
once in a blue moon: Very rarely. Example: He lives abroad, so we see him once in a blue moon.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: a stone's throw
a stone's throw: A very short distance. Example: The cottage is a stone's throw from the beach.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: in the middle of nowhere
in the middle of nowhere: In a remote place far from towns and other buildings. Example: The car broke down in the middle of nowhere with no houses in sight.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: around the clock
around the clock: Continuously throughout the day and night. Example: Rescue teams worked around the clock to reach the trapped climbers.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: in the nick of time
in the nick of time: Just before it would be too late. Example: We reached the platform in the nick of time and caught the train.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: once in a blue moon
once in a blue moon: Very rarely. Example: He lives abroad, so we see him once in a blue moon.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: a stone's throw
a stone's throw: A very short distance. Example: The cottage is a stone's throw from the beach.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: in the middle of nowhere
in the middle of nowhere: In a remote place far from towns and other buildings. Example: The car broke down in the middle of nowhere with no houses in sight.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: around the clock
around the clock: Continuously throughout the day and night. Example: Rescue teams worked around the clock to reach the trapped climbers.
Keep learning
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