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3. time is up

time is up

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Time is up.

Fig. The allotted time has run out. You must stop now. Your time is up. Time's up! Turn in your tests whether you're finished or not.

See also: time, up

somebody's/something's time is up

an activity is finished From the day he joined the army to the day his time was up, he was a fine soldier.

See also: time, up

time is up

The period of time allowed for something is ended, as in Turn in your papers, students; time is up. This idiom uses up in the sense of "completed" or "expired," a usage dating from about 1400.

See also: time, up