(about|high) time
1
used to indicate that something should have happened or been done earlier
The origin of the idiom "about time" can be traced back to the Middle English period, where the word "about" was used to mean "concerning" or "regarding." The use of "about" in this manner can be seen in expressions like "about that matter" or "about this issue." In this phrase, the emphasis is on the passage of time and the feeling of it being an appropriate or overdue moment for a particular event or action. It is commonly used in informal conversations, casual writing, and even in more formal settings.
- It's about time you start taking your health seriously and prioritize exercise.
- She tells her friend, "It's about time we visit that new restaurant everyone's been talking about."
- It was about time he realized the importance of saving money and started budgeting.
- We finally went on that long-awaited vacation—it was about time we took a break.
- Tomorrow, it will be about time to submit the project that we've been working on for months.