time and tide wait for no man en · X
Etymology
A figura etymologica – time and tide respectively derive from Proto-Germanic *tīmô and *tīdiz, which are ultimately related.
Meanings
-
Opportunities will not wait; action should be undertaken without delay.
"And now", said Daniel, looking at his watch, "as time and tide wait for no man, my trusty partner, and as I am ready for starting, bag and baggage, at the gate below, let me say a last word".
1857, Charles Dickens, chapter 22, in Little Dorrit:"Do you not think, my dear lad, that you had better begin? Time and tide, as you are aware, wait for no man".
1903, P. G. Wodehouse, “Work”, in Tales of St. Austin's:
Relateds
look before you leap · he who hesitates is lost · strike while the iron is hot
Synonyms
time and tide · time and tide stay for no man · procrastination is the thief of time · tide nor time tarrieth no man · time is of the essence · there's no time like the present · time and tide tarry for no man
Translations (15)
ko 세월은 사람을 기다려 주지 않는다 (proverb) · bg петима Петко не чакат (proverb) · pl liczy się czas (proverb) · el οι καιροί ου μενετοί (proverb) · cmn 時不我待 /时不我待 (proverb) · cmn 歲月不等人 /岁月不等人 (proverb) · vi thời giờ thấm thoát thoi đưa (proverb) · ta ஐயர் வரும் வரை அம்மாவாசை காத்திருக்காது (proverb) · bg времето не чака (proverb) · de das Rad der Zeit hält niemand auf (proverb) · fi aikaa ei ole tuhlattavaksi (proverb) · pt o tempo e a maré não esperam por ninguém (proverb) · ru вре́мя не ждёт (proverb) · my အချိန်နှင့် ဒီရေသည် လူကိုမစောင့် (proverb) · ja 歳月人を待たず (proverb)