# it's about time

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/its-about-time
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

Used to express impatience at the eventual occurrence of something that the speaker or writer has deemed to be long overdue.

## Examples

- It's about time you called me back.
- After three hours of waiting, the bus finally arrived, and everyone muttered that it was about time.
- The government passed the long-promised reform, and critics in the press declared that it was about time, noting the legislation had languished in committee for nearly a decade.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.