ENGLISH
REFERENCE

time bandit

idiom
Meaning

Something or someone that consumes an inordinate amount of time, especially without achieving anything productive.


Examples
SIMPLE

Social media is a total time bandit for me.

CONTEXTUAL

I try to avoid long meetings because they are such a time bandit during my busy workday.

COMPLEX

The constant stream of unnecessary emails acted as a persistent time bandit, preventing the team from completing their primary research objectives.

Anchors to
Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    a week is a long time in politics

    In politics, much change can occur in a short space of time.

  2. 02

    about time

    Far past the desired time.

  3. 03

    any time now

    Very soon.

  4. 04

    any time soon

    soon

  5. 05

    better luck next time

    Used to wish somebody hope in future success after a failure.

  6. 06

    bide one's time

    To wait, especially for a suitable opportunity.

  7. 07

    borrowed time

    A period of time whose precise duration is not known but which can be expected to be quite limited, and at the end of which one's situation, benefits, or opportunities will be entirely terminated.

  8. 08

    burn time

    To waste time unnecessarily.

Last updated April 17, 2026