Give me time

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "Give me time" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when requesting someone to allow you a period to think, reflect, or complete a task. Example: "I appreciate your patience, but I need you to give me time to come up with a thoughtful response."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

As time off is necessary for your well-being, plan for it in advance and give "me" time the same weight as other items on your agenda.

Huffington Post

"Give me time.

The Economist

Give me time, she says.

The New York Times

Give me time, I'm as stiff as yourself".

The Guardian

Give me time!" "To be honest," Carmichael said then, "I didn't expect that enthusiastic response".

The New York Times - Books

Give me time to backtrack or give me another person to help.

The Guardian

Give me time, ideas, information, give, give, give".

Science Magazine

Give me time though and perhaps my cynicism will grow.

TechCrunch

1.40pm GMT Time won't give me time @Busfield is sticking to his guns in the great timing debate of 2014.

The Guardian - Sport

For that, give me time.

The New York Times

But just give me time".

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase “Give me time”, be clear about the context. Briefly explain what you need the time for to manage expectations and show respect for the other person's time.

Common error

Avoid using “Give me time” as an excuse for perpetual delay. Set realistic deadlines and communicate progress to show you're actively working on the task, not just postponing it.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "Give me time" functions as an imperative, directly requesting someone to grant a delay. As indicated by Ludwig, it’s a request for an extension or allowance.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

44%

Science

28%

Formal & Business

14%

Less common in

Academia

7%

Reference

7%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "Give me time" serves as a direct and imperative request for a delay, typically used in neutral to informal contexts. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and identifies its function as seeking a deferment for reflection or task completion. Although not exceptionally formal, this phrase is quite common, particularly in news, media, and scientific contexts. To ensure clarity and professionalism, consider briefly explaining the reason for needing the time, and in more formal situations, substituting the phrase with alternatives like "allow me some time" can enhance the tone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Allow me some time

More formal and polite, emphasizes the speaker's need for time.

Give me a moment

Requests a shorter, unspecified duration.

Let me have some time

Similar in meaning but slightly more emphatic about needing time.

Can I have a moment

Presents the request as a question, softer approach.

I need a little more time

Highlights the speaker's requirement and the insufficiency of the current time.

Bear with me for a moment

Asks for patience while the speaker is working on something.

Hold on a second

Informal and typically requests a very short delay.

Give me a break

Implies needing time to rest or recover, not necessarily for a task.

Let me sleep on it

Specifically asks for time to consider something overnight.

I'll get back to you

Indicates a delay until the speaker can provide information or complete the task.

FAQs

What does "Give me time" mean?

The phrase "Give me time" is a request for a period to think, reflect, or complete a task. It implies that the speaker needs additional time before providing an answer or finishing an activity.

How can I use "Give me time" in a sentence?

You can use "Give me time" to ask someone to allow you a period to consider something or finish a task. For instance, "I appreciate your patience, but I need you to give me time to come up with a thoughtful response."

Which phrases are similar to "Give me time"?

Alternatives to "Give me time" include "allow me some time", "give me a moment", or "I need a little more time", which express similar requests for a delay.

Is it appropriate to say "Give me time" in formal settings?

While "Give me time" is generally acceptable, in more formal settings, consider using phrases such as "allow me some time" or "I would appreciate a moment to consider" to maintain a higher level of formality.