time's up

Meaning

This expression is used to announce that the allowed period for an activity, test, or task has completely finished. It is commonly used by teachers, exam proctors, or during games. It can sometimes carry a slightly urgent or firm tone depending on the context.

Examples

• Put your pens down, everyone, time's up!

  Put your pens down, everyone, time's up!

• I wanted to finish the last question, but my time's up.

  I wanted to finish the last question, but my time's up.

• Time's up! Show me what you've drawn so far.

  Time's up! Show me what you've drawn so far.

• We need to leave now because our parking time's up.

  We need to leave now because our parking time's up.

• You have five minutes left before time's up.

  You have five minutes left before time's up.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ The time is finished, please stop writing.

  ✓ Time's up, please stop writing.

  Learners often literally translate 'time is finished' from their native language. 'Time's up' is the natural, idiomatic expression used when a limit is reached.

• ✗ I need to go because my time is out.

  ✓ I need to go because my time's up.

  'Time is out' is a common confusion with 'run out of time' or 'time-out' (a break). Use 'time's up' to state that the period has ended.

Related Expressions

Practice

• Please stop typing now, your ___.

  💡 The allowed period of time has ended.

  Show answer

  time's up

• Is ___ already? I feel like we just started the test.

  💡 Has the limit been reached?

  Show answer

  time's up