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3. time will tell

time will tell

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(Only) time will tell.

Prov. You will only know the outcome after time has passed. Jill: Do you think Bill and Nancy will have a happy marriage? John: Only time will tell. I'm not sure yet if our advertising campaign was a success. Time will tell.

See also: tell, time, will

Time will tell.

Something will become known in the course of time. I don't know if things will improve. Time will tell. Who knows what the future will bring? Only time will tell.

See also: tell, time, will

(only) time will tell

it is necessary to wait to find out something Farmers are experimenting with a new type of corn, and only time will tell whether it's better than the old one.

See also: tell, time, will

Time will tell.

something that you say which means that the result of something will be clear after a period of time I don't know if this marriage will work, but time will tell. Only time will tell if the business will be successful.

See bide time, have a lot of time for, kill time, mark time, pass the time of day, play for time

See also: tell, time, will

time will tell

Sooner or later something will become known or be revealed, as in I don't know whether or not they'll like the reconstruction; only time will tell. This proverbial phrase dates from the early 1500s.

See also: tell, time, will