Time moves every day. We wake up, go to school, eat lunch, play, and sleep again. That is how time passes. Sometimes it feels slow, like waiting for the school bell. Other times it feels fast, like recess going by quickly.
Writers use similes to help us see and feel how time moves. A simile says something is like something else. It helps paint a picture in our minds. In this lesson, we will look at similes that show how time passes. These short phrases make reading and talking more fun and easy to understand.
Smiles about Time Passing
1. Like sand through fingers
Meaning: Time goes by quickly
To Provide an Example: Summer break felt like sand through my fingers. / The weekend slipped by like sand through fingers.
Alternative Meaning: It’s hard to hold onto time / Time moves without stopping
2. Like a blink of an eye
Meaning: Something happens very fast
To Provide an Example: The game ended in a blink of an eye. / My birthday party went by in a blink of an eye.
Alternative Meaning: So quick you hardly notice / It feels like just a moment
3. Like pages turning in a book
Meaning: Time keeps moving
To Provide an Example: Our school year passed like pages turning in a book. / The day felt like turning pages in a story.
Alternative Meaning: Each moment leads to the next / Time flows easily
4. Like a race car on a track
Meaning: Time moves fast
To Provide an Example: This morning went by like a race car on a track. / Friday felt like a race car speeding past.
Alternative Meaning: Very quick / Time rushes by
5. Like a snowflake melting
Meaning: A moment doesn’t last long
To Provide an Example: Her smile was like a snowflake melting. / Our ice cream break was like a melting snowflake.
Alternative Meaning: Goes away fast / Not here for long
6. Like shadows growing
Meaning: Time passes slowly
To Provide an Example: Waiting for dinner was like watching shadows grow. / The car ride felt like shadows moving slowly.
Alternative Meaning: Takes a long time / Quiet passing of time
7. Like a clock ticking
Meaning: Time keeps going
To Provide an Example: Homework time moved like a clock ticking. / My turn came like a clock ticking—one tick at a time.
Alternative Meaning: Steady and regular / Time always moves
8. Like leaves falling from trees
Meaning: Time passes quietly and softly
To Provide an Example: Fall days feel like leaves falling from trees. / Grandma’s stories were like falling leaves, slow and sweet.
Alternative Meaning: Gentle and calm / Peaceful passing
9. Like a sunset fading
Meaning: A moment is ending
To Provide an Example: Our fun at the park was like a sunset fading. / The last day of camp was like a setting sun.
Alternative Meaning: It’s almost over / The end of a good thing
10. Like popcorn popping
Meaning: Time filled with many quick things
To Provide an Example: The school day went by like popcorn popping—so much happening! / Recess felt like popcorn popping, fast and fun.
Alternative Meaning: Busy and short / Lots happening quickly
11. Like waves on a beach
Meaning: Time comes and goes
To Provide an Example: Our day at the beach felt like waves coming and going. / Each hour passed like soft waves.
Alternative Meaning: Time returns and leaves / Gentle change
12. Like footsteps fading away
Meaning: A moment is leaving
To Provide an Example: His goodbye was like footsteps fading away. / The fun at the park was like steps walking off.
Alternative Meaning: Going further away / Slowly ending
13. Like wind through trees
Meaning: Time moves and disappears quickly
To Provide an Example: The party was like wind through trees—fun and fast. / The morning passed like a breeze in the leaves.
Alternative Meaning: Short and light / Quickly gone
14. Like stars blinking in the sky
Meaning: Time feels magical and short
To Provide an Example: Story time was like stars blinking—sparkly and fast. / Our fun night was gone like stars in the morning.
Alternative Meaning: Special and brief / Doesn’t stay long
15. Like bubbles floating away
Meaning: Fun moments go fast
To Provide an Example: The birthday party was like bubbles floating. / Our picnic flew by like soap bubbles in the air.
Alternative Meaning: Nice but short / Doesn’t last long
16. Like a candle burning down
Meaning: Time slowly disappears
To Provide an Example: The day faded like a candle burning. / Waiting was like a candle losing its light.
Alternative Meaning: Slowly ends / Grows smaller over time
17. Like ice melting in the sun
Meaning: Time doesn’t last
To Provide an Example: Our snowman melted like ice in the sun. / The morning melted away while we played.
Alternative Meaning: Time slips away / Can’t hold it for long
18. Like a kite flying away
Meaning: A fun time leaves quickly
To Provide an Example: Our joy flew like a kite in the sky. / Playtime was like a kite, high and then gone.
Alternative Meaning: Beautiful but quick / Doesn’t stay
19. Like a flash of lightning
Meaning: Time passes very fast
To Provide an Example: The movie ended like a flash of lightning. / Snack time was over in a flash.
Alternative Meaning: So fast / Over quickly
20. Like cookies baking in the oven
Meaning: Time feels slow while waiting
To Provide an Example: The ride to the zoo was like cookies baking—so slow! / Waiting for Grandma was like cookies taking forever.
Alternative Meaning: Waiting feels long / You want time to hurry
21. Like a balloon floating up
Meaning: Time lifts and drifts away
To Provide an Example: Our fun rose like a balloon. / The minutes flew like a balloon in the wind.
Alternative Meaning: Quiet and far / Gone before you know it
22. Like crayons melting in the sun
Meaning: Time disappears slowly
To Provide an Example: The hot afternoon melted away like crayons. / The wait felt like soft crayons in the sun.
Alternative Meaning: Quiet fading / Time feels slow
23. Like a song coming to an end
Meaning: Time feels lovely but short
To Provide an Example: Our picnic ended like a song. / The book finished like the last note of music.
Alternative Meaning: Nice but ends / Something you wish lasted longer
24. Like stars fading at sunrise
Meaning: A nice time is over
To Provide an Example: The campfire fun faded like stars at sunrise. / Our sleepover ended like morning stars.
Alternative Meaning: A pretty ending / Light turning into day
25. Like a clock with no hands
Meaning: Time feels like it’s standing still
To Provide an Example: Waiting at the dentist was like a clock with no hands. / Rainy days feel like time stops.
Alternative Meaning: Doesn’t move / Feels very slow
26. Like a snowball rolling down
Meaning: Time gets faster
To Provide an Example: Our day picked up speed like a snowball. / The afternoon rolled quickly like a snowball.
Alternative Meaning: It moves faster and faster
27. Like a merry-go-round
Meaning: Time feels dizzy and fun
To Provide an Example: Our day at the fair was like a merry-go-round. / Spinning around made the minutes fly.
Alternative Meaning: Busy and joyful / Goes by fast
28. Like a whisper in the wind
Meaning: Time goes without sound
To Provide an Example: That quiet afternoon felt like a whisper. / The moment passed like a soft wind.
Alternative Meaning: Quiet and gentle / Almost unnoticed
29. Like a skipping stone
Meaning: Time jumps quickly
To Provide an Example: The weekend skipped by like a stone on water. / Each hour flew like a bouncing pebble.
Alternative Meaning: One quick jump after another
30. Like a candle’s last flicker
Meaning: Time is almost gone
To Provide an Example: Our sleepover ended like a candle’s flicker. / The movie’s end was like a tiny light going out.
Alternative Meaning: The last bit / A quiet goodbye
31. Like water slipping down a drain
Meaning: Time goes away fast
To Provide an Example: The day disappeared like water down the drain. / My weekend went away so quickly.
Alternative Meaning: Can’t get it back / Gone too soon
32. Like a yo-yo spinning
Meaning: Time goes round and round quickly
To Provide an Example: The day felt like a yo-yo—fast and fun. / Time spun by like a yo-yo.
Alternative Meaning: Back and forth / Fast and playful
33. Like a dream fading
Meaning: A special moment ends
To Provide an Example: My visit to the zoo faded like a dream. / The sleepover felt like a dream that went away.
Alternative Meaning: Gentle ending / Not clear anymore
34. Like a clock with wings
Meaning: Time flies fast
To Provide an Example: The birthday party flew by like a clock with wings. / The play ended before I knew it.
Alternative Meaning: Time moves quickly / Feels like it flies
35. Like a roller coaster
Meaning: Time goes fast and full of action
To Provide an Example: The school day felt like a roller coaster. / It was fun and quick.
Alternative Meaning: Fast and wild / Lots of change
36. Like morning fog
Meaning: Time fades away slowly
To Provide an Example: Our walk was like morning fog—it slowly went away. / That peaceful moment faded like fog.
Alternative Meaning: Slowly disappearing / Hard to see clearly
37. Like petals falling from a flower
Meaning: Time slips away gently
To Provide an Example: Her smile faded like petals falling. / Our talk ended like soft petals in the wind.
Alternative Meaning: Soft and quiet end / A slow goodbye
38. Like honey dripping from a spoon
Meaning: Time feels slow but sweet
To Provide an Example: Summer days felt like honey dripping—slow and happy. / Our reading time was just like honey.
Alternative Meaning: Slow and smooth / Time you enjoy
39. Like clouds drifting
Meaning: Time moves calmly
To Provide an Example: Our nap time passed like clouds drifting. / The afternoon floated by like clouds.
Alternative Meaning: Calm and quiet / A soft flow of time
40. Like skipping through a song
Meaning: Time moves fast through fun parts
To Provide an Example: The games went fast like skipping a song. / Recess skipped by so quickly.
Alternative Meaning: Fun moves fast / Quickly finished
41. Like a spark in the dark
Meaning: A quick, bright moment
To Provide an Example: His smile came and went like a spark. / That joke was like a spark in the night.
Alternative Meaning: Short and bright / Quick flash
42. Like water running from a hose
Meaning: Time flows fast
To Provide an Example: The fun poured out like water from a hose. / The party went so fast.
Alternative Meaning: Full of energy / Quick and steady
43. Like a clock chiming
Meaning: Each moment is counted
To Provide an Example: Our morning moved like a chiming clock—tick by tick. / Time kept sounding off.
Alternative Meaning: Regular and steady / One moment at a time
44. Like mist in the morning
Meaning: A soft, short moment
To Provide an Example: Breakfast time was like mist in the morning. / That moment was there, then gone.
Alternative Meaning: Light and fast / Quiet and quick
45. Like crayons being used up
Meaning: Time slowly disappears as we use it
To Provide an Example: My afternoon was like crayons getting shorter. / Each hour was like coloring until the crayon was gone.
Alternative Meaning: Bit by bit / Little at a time
46. Like a dog chasing its tail
Meaning: Time moves fast but in a circle
To Provide an Example: Our silly games went like a dog chasing its tail—fun and fast. / The day circled around quickly.
Alternative Meaning: Busy but fun / Round and round
47. Like cake being eaten
Meaning: Good times go away fast
To Provide an Example: The birthday fun was like cake—it disappeared fast. / Time got eaten up.
Alternative Meaning: Sweet and short / Gone quickly
48. Like snow falling
Meaning: Time feels quiet and gentle
To Provide an Example: Reading time felt like snow falling—soft and nice. / The evening drifted down gently.
Alternative Meaning: Calm and peaceful / Soft time
49. Like the moon changing
Meaning: Time moves through stages
To Provide an Example: The week changed like the moon. / Each day looked different, like the moon growing or shrinking.
Alternative Meaning: Time doesn’t stay the same / Always changing
50. Like dominoes falling
Meaning: Time moves quickly, one part after another
To Provide an Example: The day went like dominoes—quick and in a line. / Each event followed the next.
Alternative Meaning: Fast and neat / Each part leads to the next
Trials for Success: Similes about Time Passing
- My weekend felt like it passed in a ________ of an eye.
- Waiting for cookies to bake was like ________ dripping from a spoon.
- Our trip to the zoo went by like a ________ on a track.
- The school year moved like pages ________ in a book.
- Bedtime came and went like a ________ floating away.
- The family picnic ended like a ________ fading in the sky.
- Cleaning my room felt like a clock with no ________.
- The birthday party was gone like ________ popping in a pan.
- Grandpa’s story time passed like leaves ________ from a tree.
- Monday morning felt like ________ growing on the sidewalk.
- Our walk through the park felt like ________ drifting in the sky.
- Saying goodbye to my cousin was like a ________ fading at sunrise.
- Our class dance practice flew by like a ________ spinning.
- Watching the fireworks felt like a ________ in the dark.
- The snowman melted like ________ in the sun.
Answer Key
- blink
- honey
- race car
- turning
- balloon
- sunset
- hands
- popcorn
- falling
- shadows
- clouds
- stars
- yo-yo
- spark
- ice
Conclusion
Time keeps moving. Sometimes it goes fast, and sometimes it feels slow. Similes help us talk about how it feels when time passes.
Now that you’ve learned many similes about time, try using them in your stories and talking. They make your ideas clear and fun. Each simile is a small picture that helps us understand time better. Keep learning and enjoy each moment, one tick at a time.
