English Reference
Idiom idiom

get late


To approach nighttime.

Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.


SIMPLE

We should leave soon because it is getting late.

CONTEXTUAL

The party was fun, but we decided to head home once it started getting late.

COMPLEX

As the shadows lengthened and it began getting late, the travelers realized they would not reach the village before nightfall.


Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    a day late and a dollar short

    Too late and too feeble to achieve the desired effect.

  2. 02

    as it gets

    As it is possible to be.

  3. 03

    as of late

    Lately; recently.

  4. 04

    been there, done that, got the T-shirt

    Alternative form of been there, done that, bought the T-shirt.

  5. 05

    can't get enough

    Greatly enjoys; likes a lot.

  6. 06

    cat got someone's tongue

    Why is someone not saying anything?

  7. 07

    could not get elected dogcatcher

    Said of someone, particularly a politician, who is extremely unpopular.

  8. 08

    don't get someone started

    Used to attempt to avoid or abbreviate a discussion that speaker or hearer may wish to avoid.

Last updated August 10, 2026