ALL meanings of behind the times
be·hind the times
B b - noun plural behind the times You can use the times to refer to the present time and to modern fashions, tastes, and developments. For example, if you say that someone keeps up with the times, you mean they are fashionable or aware of modern developments. If you say they are behind the times, you mean they are unfashionable or not aware of them. 3
- noun behind the times out-of-date; old-fashioned 3
- adjective behind the times old fashioned 1
- noun behind the times the system of those sequential relations that any event has to any other, as past, present, or future; indefinite and continuous duration regarded as that in which events succeed one another. 1
- noun behind the times duration regarded as belonging to the present life as distinct from the life to come or from eternity; finite duration. 1
- noun behind the times (sometimes initial capital letter) a system or method of measuring or reckoning the passage of time: mean time; apparent time; Greenwich Time. 1
- noun behind the times a limited period or interval, as between two successive events: a long time. 1
- noun behind the times a particular period considered as distinct from other periods: Youth is the best time of life. 1
- noun behind the times Often, times. a period in the history of the world, or contemporary with the life or activities of a notable person: prehistoric times; in Lincoln's time. the period or era now or previously present: a sign of the times; How times have changed! a period considered with reference to its events or prevailing conditions, tendencies, ideas, etc.: hard times; a time of war. 1
- noun behind the times a prescribed or allotted period, as of one's life, for payment of a debt, etc. 1
- noun behind the times the end of a prescribed or allotted period, as of one's life or a pregnancy: His time had come, but there was no one left to mourn over him. When her time came, her husband accompanied her to the delivery room. 1
- noun behind the times a period with reference to personal experience of a specified kind: to have a good time; a hot time in the old town tonight. 1
- noun behind the times a period of work of an employee, or the pay for it; working hours or days or an hourly or daily pay rate. 1
- noun behind the times Informal. a term of enforced duty or imprisonment: to serve time in the army; do time in prison. 1
- noun behind the times the period necessary for or occupied by something: The time of the baseball game was two hours and two minutes. The bus takes too much time, so I'll take a plane. 1
- noun behind the times leisure time; sufficient or spare time: to have time for a vacation; I have no time to stop now. 1
- noun behind the times a particular or definite point in time, as indicated by a clock: What time is it? 1
- noun behind the times a particular part of a year, day, etc.; season or period: It's time for lunch. 1
- noun behind the times an appointed, fit, due, or proper instant or period: a time for sowing; the time when the sun crosses the meridian; There is a time for everything. 1
- noun behind the times the particular point in time when an event is scheduled to take place: train time; curtain time. 1
- noun behind the times an indefinite, frequently prolonged period or duration in the future: Time will tell if what we have done here today was right. 1
- noun behind the times the right occasion or opportunity: to watch one's time. 1
- noun behind the times each occasion of a recurring action or event: to do a thing five times; It's the pitcher's time at bat. 1
- noun behind the times times, used as a multiplicative word in phrasal combinations expressing how many instances of a quantity or factor are taken together: Two goes into six three times; five times faster. 1
- noun behind the times Drama. one of the three unities. Compare unity (def 8). 1
- noun behind the times Prosody. a unit or a group of units in the measurement of meter. 1
- noun behind the times Music. tempo; relative rapidity of movement. the metrical duration of a note or rest. proper or characteristic tempo. the general movement of a particular kind of musical composition with reference to its rhythm, metrical structure, and tempo. the movement of a dance or the like to music so arranged: waltz time. 1
- noun behind the times Military. rate of marching, calculated on the number of paces taken per minute: double time; quick time. 1
- noun behind the times Manège. each completed action or movement of the horse. 1
- adjective behind the times of, relating to, or showing the passage of time. 1
- adjective behind the times (of an explosive device) containing a clock so that it will detonate at the desired moment: a time bomb. 1
- adjective behind the times Commerce. payable at a stated period of time after presentment: time drafts or notes. 1
- adjective behind the times of or relating to purchases on the installment plan, or with payment postponed. 1
- verb with object behind the times to measure or record the speed, duration, or rate of: to time a race. 1
- verb with object behind the times to fix the duration of: The proctor timed the test at 15 minutes. 1
- verb with object behind the times to fix the interval between (actions, events, etc.): They timed their strokes at six per minute. 1
- verb with object behind the times to regulate (a train, clock, etc.) as to time. 1
- verb with object behind the times to appoint or choose the moment or occasion for; schedule: He timed the attack perfectly. 1
- verb without object behind the times to keep time; sound or move in unison. 1
- idioms behind the times against time, in an effort to finish something within a limited period: We worked against time to get out the newspaper. 1
- idioms behind the times ahead of time, before the time due; early: The building was completed ahead of time. 1
- idioms behind the times at one time, once; in a former time: At one time they owned a restaurant. at the same time; at once: They all tried to talk at one time. 1
- idioms behind the times at the same time, nevertheless; yet: I'd like to try it, but at the same time I'm a little afraid. 1
- idioms behind the times at times, at intervals; occasionally: At times the city becomes intolerable. 1
- idioms behind the times beat someone's time, Slang. to compete for or win a person being dated or courted by another; prevail over a rival: He accused me, his own brother, of trying to beat his time. 1
- idioms behind the times behind the times, old-fashioned; dated: These attitudes are behind the times. 1
- idioms behind the times for the time being, temporarily; for the present: Let's forget about it for the time being. 1
- idioms behind the times from time to time, on occasion; occasionally; at intervals: She comes to see us from time to time. 1
- idioms behind the times gain time, to postpone in order to make preparations or gain an advantage; delay the outcome of: He hoped to gain time by putting off signing the papers for a few days more. 1
- idioms behind the times in good time, at the right time; on time; punctually. in advance of the right time; early: We arrived at the appointed spot in good time. 1