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Tuongvan Posted 18 years ago
Grammar
kill the time/pass the time/while away the time
Hi teachers,
Could you possibly tell me whether "pass the time", "kill the time", and "while away the time" can be used interchangeably?
The plane was late, so I killed an hour or so window-shopping.
The plane was late, so I passed an hour or so window-shopping.
The plane was late, so I while away an hour or so window-shopping.
Thank you in advance
Could you possibly tell me whether "pass the time", "kill the time", and "while away the time" can be used interchangeably?
The plane was late, so I killed an hour or so window-shopping.
The plane was late, so I passed an hour or so window-shopping.
The plane was late, so I while away an hour or so window-shopping.
Thank you in advance
Top answer
Hi, these three verbs have more or less the same meaning but the first is more colloquial and you wouldn't say it in a formal context and would rarely write it. The third, "while away" is slightly different since it is intentionally spending time doing something just to pass the time, while you may "pass time doing something" just because you want to do it. " You could also use "spend" interchangeably with "pass".
- Hi, these three verbs have more or less the same meaning but the first is more colloquial and you wouldn't say it in a formal context and would rarely write it.
- The third, "while away" is slightly different since it is intentionally spending time doing something just to pass the time, while you may "pass time doing something" just because you want to do it.
- " You could also use "spend" interchangeably with "pass".
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4 Answers
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Hi,
these three verbs have more or less the same meaning but the first is more colloquial and you wouldn't say it in a formal context and would rarely write it. The third, "while away" is slightly different since it is intentionally spending time doing something just to pass the time, while you may "pass time doing something" just because you want to do it. Don't forget that "while" is a
these three verbs have more or less the same meaning but the first is more colloquial and you wouldn't say it in a formal context and would rarely write it. The third, "while away" is slightly different since it is intentionally spending time doing something just to pass the time, while you may "pass time doing something" just because you want to do it. Don't forget that "while" is a
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Hi Emmeladelyn,
I don't think " kill the time" is only colloquial and rarely used in writing.
To kill the time : do something to keep yourself busy while you are waiting for something to happen.
To pass the time : do something to stop yourself being bored during that period; do something to keep yourself busy while you are waiting for something to happen.
To while away the t
I don't think " kill the time" is only colloquial and rarely used in writing.
To kill the time : do something to keep yourself busy while you are waiting for something to happen.
To pass the time : do something to stop yourself being bored during that period; do something to keep yourself busy while you are waiting for something to happen.
To while away the t
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Following that question I ask you if "Now I have time to Kill the time" can mean same as "I got time to kill".
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AnonymousFollowing that question I ask you if "Now I have time to Kill the time" can mean same as "I got time to kill"."I got time to kill" is a slang version of "I have time to kill." "Time to kill the time" is not used, in my experience.
"Time to kill" is usually used in a situation in which you originally thought you would be in a great hurry,
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