it was about time

USAGE SUMMARY

"it was about time" is an acceptable phrase in written English.
You can use it to express that something finally happened after a long wait. For example, "It was about time we got a break from all of our work!".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

It was about time.

The New York Times - Books

Well, it was about time".

The Guardian

It was about time travel.

The Guardian - Books

Well, it was about time, wasn't it?

The New York Times

For Bernard Gilkey, it was about time.

The New York Times - Sports

Many Iraqis said it was about time.

The New York Times

He said it was about time".

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Others said it was about time.

The New York Times - Arts

whole system as it was about time anyway.

Stanford University

From a marketing perspective, it was about time.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

The bow is back and it was about time.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it was about time" to express a sense of relief or satisfaction that something has finally happened, especially after a long wait or anticipation.

Common error

Avoid using "it was about time" in situations where timeliness is not a relevant factor or when expressing gratitude or appreciation would be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it was about time" functions as an idiomatic expression used to convey that something should have happened sooner and is now finally occurring. This expression adds emphasis and emotional coloring to a statement, indicating a sense of relief, impatience, or satisfaction. As seen in the Ludwig examples, it's often used in news and media to express public sentiment.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

97%

Academia

3%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "it was about time" is a common idiomatic phrase used to express that something has finally happened after a considerable delay. According to Ludwig, it is grammatically correct and most frequently used in News & Media contexts. The phrase indicates a sense of relief or impatience that the event has finally occurred. When writing, it's important to use it in situations where timeliness is relevant and to avoid using it in overly formal contexts. Consider alternatives like "it's high time" or "it's overdue" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it's high time

Emphasizes the urgency or necessity of something happening.

it's overdue

Directly states that something should have happened sooner.

it's long past time

Highlights that a considerable amount of time has passed.

it's time already

Simple rephrasing to indicate that the moment has arrived.

it's finally here

Focuses on the arrival or occurrence of something.

the time has come

A more formal way of saying something should happen now.

it should have happened earlier

Implies that something should have occurred before now.

it was inevitable

Highlights the unavoidable nature of the event.

at long last

Emphasizes the prolonged waiting period before something occurred.

none too soon

Indicates that something happened just in time, barely avoiding a negative outcome.

FAQs

How can I use "it was about time" in a sentence?

You can use "it was about time" to express relief or satisfaction that something finally happened. For example, "After years of waiting, it was about time they released a new album".

What's another way to say "it was about time"?

Alternatives to "it was about time" include "it's high time", "it's overdue", or "at long last" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "it is about time" grammatically correct?

While "it was about time" refers to a past event or action that has now occurred, "it is about time" can be used to express that something needs to happen now or very soon. For example, "It is about time we addressed this issue".

What is the difference between "it was time" and "it was about time"?

"It was time" simply indicates that a specific moment had arrived. "It was about time" suggests that the moment was overdue and implies a sense of relief or impatience that it finally happened.