folds of time

USAGE SUMMARY

"folds of time" is a grammatically correct phrase and can be used in written English.
It is a metaphorical way of describing the passing of time, as if time is folding and unfolding like a piece of fabric. Example: As I sat in the old rocking chair on the porch, watching the sunset, I couldn't help but reflect on the folds of time, how quickly the years had passed and how much had changed since I first sat in this very spot.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Not only that, those true colors have a story to tell ― a story that would get lost in the folds of time, if color didn't matter.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Hi there, and welcome to Trail to the Chief, HuffPost's weekly trip through the folds of time-space to the peculiar world of the 2016 presidential horse-race and media coverage of it.

Huffington Post

The line between the physical world and the image world blurs.That the blurring is also a folding of time is suggested by how some dancers face forward and some face away.

The New York Times - Arts

(In a further mobius folding of time, Amelia is played by Anne Hathaway — the very name of Shakespeare's wife!) Blind Gloucester is led to the edge of the white cliffs of Dover to die, while in the film Cooper is marched to the precipice of a snowy planet by the Edmund-esque Dr. Mann Matt Damonn).

The New Yorker

There is a variety of modalities of folds from the fold of our material selves, our bodies to the folding of time, or simply memory.

European Journal of Futures Research

The potential implication for orientation of tree diagrams is two-fold: misreading of time direction and the potential for reinforcing linear and progressive conceptions of evolution.

Evolution: Education and Outreach

While we did not compare CAT activity in the transformant rickettsiae, the 3-fold greater period of time required to obtain the Rmontanensis700 line under a 2-fold lower concentration of CHL than that required to obtain the Rmona658 line in the same host cell line [39] suggested a relatively lower level of CAT activity in Rmontanensis700.

Plosone

I keep asking Facebook's engineers to build me a tesseract so I, too, could fold the fabric of time and space.

The New York Times - Books

This corresponds to a 2.5-fold increased risk of time to first episode as estimated by Cox regression (stratified by age, gender and year of birth and adjusted for co-morbidity and socio-economic status), as outlined in Table  3.

BMC Infectious Diseases

The use of the eFIP interface provided a significant speed-up (∼2.5-fold) for time to completion of the curation task.

Database : the journal of biological databases and curation

"Another mirage folds into the haze of time recalled/And now the floodgates cannot hold all my sorrow all my rage".

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Employ "folds of time" when aiming for a poetic or evocative description of the past or the aging process. The phrase works well when implying complexity or hidden layers within a timeframe.

Common error

Avoid using "folds of time" in contexts that require a literal or precise measurement of time. This is a metaphorical expression and is not suitable for technical or scientific writing where accuracy is paramount.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "folds of time" functions primarily as a noun phrase, serving as a subject or object within a sentence. It operates metaphorically to represent the intricate and layered nature of time's passage. Ludwig AI confirms that this is a valid, albeit uncommon, expression.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Wiki

10%

Reference

10%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "folds of time" is a grammatically sound and metaphorically rich noun phrase used to describe the complex nature of time's passage. While not frequently encountered, according to Ludwig AI, its use is appropriate in literary or reflective contexts, particularly within News & Media and scientific articles, for its ability to suggest depth and intricacy. The phrase functions to evoke contemplation on the non-linear dimensions of history. Remember to use it when seeking a poetic expression rather than a literal measurement of time.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unfolding of history

Focuses on the revelation and development of events over time.

river of time

Emphasizes the constant flow and change associated with time.

passage of years

Emphasizes the continuous movement and progression of time.

ravages of time

Highlights the destructive or deteriorating effects of time.

sweep of time

Captures the comprehensive and encompassing nature of time's influence.

tapestry of time

Presents time as a complex and interwoven collection of events.

corridors of time

Uses a spatial metaphor to suggest a linear path through time.

footprints of time

Suggests evidence or remnants left behind by the passage of time.

eras gone by

Refers to distinct periods in the past that have elapsed.

depths of history

Highlights the vastness and obscurity of past events.

FAQs

How can I use "folds of time" in a sentence?

You can use "folds of time" to evoke a sense of depth and complexity when referring to the past. For example, "The historian explored the "folds of time", uncovering forgotten stories and hidden connections".

What does "folds of time" mean?

"Folds of time" is a metaphorical expression suggesting that time is not linear but has layers, complexities, and hidden aspects, much like folds in a fabric.

Is there a more common alternative to "folds of time"?

While "folds of time" offers a poetic image, phrases like "passage of time" or "course of time" are more commonly used in general writing.

What's the tone conveyed by "folds of time"?

"Folds of time" typically conveys a reflective, contemplative, or even slightly melancholic tone, suggesting a deep consideration of history and its impact.