kill-time
C1Informal
Definition
Meaning
To occupy oneself with some activity to make time pass more quickly, often while waiting for something else.
To engage in trivial or unproductive activities specifically for the purpose of passing time, implying the time spent lacks inherent value or purpose.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Inherently implies a lack of serious purpose or productivity. Often used with a slightly negative or neutral connotation. The activity itself is secondary to its function of making time pass.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical difference. The hyphenated form 'kill-time' is less common than the phrasal verb 'kill time'. Both varieties use it identically.
Connotations
Equally informal in both dialects. Slight British tendency to use 'whilst' in formal registers where Americans use 'while', but this does not affect the usage of 'kill-time'.
Frequency
Equally common in both UK and US informal speech.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] kill-time [by + GERUND][Subject] kill-time [with + NOUN][Subject] kill-time [until + CLAUSE]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Killing time”
- “A time-killer”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare; would imply unproductivity. 'The team killed time waiting for the client's call.'
Academic
Very rare; considered informal and imprecise.
Everyday
Common. 'I killed time before my appointment by browsing in a shop.'
Technical
Not used.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- We had an hour to kill before the train, so we had a pint at the pub.
- She killed time whilst waiting by doing a crossword.
American English
- We had an hour to kill before the flight, so we grabbed a coffee.
- He killed time while waiting by scrolling on his phone.
adjective
British English
- It was just a kill-time activity, nothing serious.
- I downloaded a few kill-time games for the journey.
American English
- It's a kill-time app, perfect for waiting rooms.
- He was engaged in a kill-time conversation about the weather.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I read a magazine to kill time at the dentist's office.
- We played cards to kill time on the long journey.
- Faced with a three-hour layover, he found a quiet corner to kill time with a novel.
- They killed time before the movie started by window-shopping in the mall.
- The bureaucratic delay forced us to kill time in the bland airport lounge, a study in enforced idleness.
- He viewed mobile games not as entertainment but merely as a sophisticated means to kill time during his commute.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a clock with the word 'TIME' on it. A small cartoon character is throwing darts at it, 'killing' the clock-face to make it stop. This represents making time 'die' (pass) by attacking it with an activity.
Conceptual Metaphor
TIME IS A RESOURCE (that can be 'killed', i.e., consumed or expended, often wastefully).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid literal translation (убивать время) as it's a direct calque and sounds unnatural in Russian. The correct equivalent is 'коротать время' or 'проводить время'.
- Do not confuse with 'take your time' (не торопиться).
Common Mistakes
- Using it in formal writing.
- Incorrect: 'I killed-time for my homework.' (Implies procrastination, not the activity itself.) Correct: 'I killed time before doing my homework.'
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'kill-time' CORRECTLY?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
The standard form is the phrasal verb 'kill time' (two words). 'Kill-time' (hyphenated) is sometimes used attributively as a compound modifier (e.g., a kill-time activity).
Not strongly negative, but it is neutral-to-slightly-negative. It emphasizes that the primary goal is to make time pass, not that the activity is enjoyable or valuable in itself, though it might be.
'Spend time' is neutral and broader; you can spend time working, relaxing, or learning. 'Kill time' specifically means to pass time, usually with an undemanding activity, while waiting for something else.
No, it is firmly informal. In formal writing, use alternatives like 'pass the time', 'occupy the interval', or 'wait'.