give the time of day: meaning & examples

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Language: English

Meanings:

  • 2.

    WorldwideidiomaticinformalMachine
    • To acknowledge, show respect to, or give attention to someone.

    Examples

    Beta

    • Despite their past disagreements, he finally gave her the time of day at the reunion.

      He acknowledged and showed respect to her at the reunion.

    • I tried to talk to him, but he wouldn’t even give me the time of day.

      I tried to get his attention, but he refused to acknowledge me.

    • It's frustrating when your boss doesn't give you the time of day, even when you have good ideas.

      It's frustrating when your boss ignores or doesn't acknowledge you despite your ideas.

  • 1.

    British EnglishHistoricaldatedliteralMachine
    • To tell someone the current time by consulting a watch, clock, or similar device.

    Examples

    Beta

    • When asked, he gave me the time of day and said it was quarter past three.

      He told me the current time was 3:15.

    • Can you give the time of day? My watch stopped working.

      Can you tell me the current time? My watch is broken.

    • She always gives the time of day to customers who ask politely.

      She tells the current time to customers who ask nicely.

    • They gave the time of day to all the participants before the race started.

      They informed all participants of the current time before the race.

  • 3.

    WorldwideidiomaticinformalMachine
    • To refuse to acknowledge someone; to snub or ignore a person.

    Examples

    Beta

    • After the argument, she refused to give him the time of day at the office.

      After the argument, she ignored him at work.

    • He felt snubbed because his classmates wouldn’t give him the time of day.

      He felt rejected because his classmates ignored him.

    • Don’t expect them to give you the time of day after what happened last week.

      Don’t expect them to acknowledge you after last week’s event.

Examples:

  • EN: She got jealous 'cause some other little girl sent a note to a boy she wouldn't give the time of day to, till she thought the other little girl was interested in him.
    ES: Se puso celosa porque otra chica le envió una nota al chico que estaba enamorado de ella y al cual ella no quería. Hasta que se enteró de que él le gustaba a otra chica.
  • EN: He won't give the time of day to anybody.
    ES: No tiene tiempo para atender a nadie durante el día.
  • EN: - You are a man I would not normally give the time of day to and you have a vile dog,
    ES: -Ud. es un hombre que yo normalmente no le haría caso... y tiene un perro asqueroso.
  • EN: Won't give the time of day to his own flesh and blood.
    ES: A los de su sangre no los ayuda en nada.
  • EN: It just seemed to me like you were the kind of girl that didn't give the time of day to anybody.
    ES: Me parecía que eras del tipo de chica que no le daba a alguien ni la hora.
  • EN: ♪ But we won't give the time of day, oh-oh-oh ♪
    ES: *Pero no le haremos caso*
  • EN: But meet him now, and, be it in the morn, When every one will give the time of day, He knits his brow and shows an angry eye,
    ES: Miradlo ahora y, si es por la mañana, cuando cualquiera da los buenos días, él tuerce el gesto, mira con enojo, desdeñando el respeto que nos corresponde.
  • EN: Will the richest and most powerful men in New York give the time of day to a gang of kids who haven't got a nickel to their name?
    ES: ¿Los hombres más ricos y poderosos de Nueva York le harán caso a una pandilla de chicos sin un centavo?
  • EN: Anyone caught talking to outsiders, even to give the time of day, will immediately be suspended with no salary.
    ES: El que se vaya de la lengua aunque solo sea para dar la puñetera hora quedará suspendido de empleo y sueldo.
  • EN: I wouldn't give the time of day for anything else.
    ES: No le daba importancia a nada más.
  • EN: Your probably some girl I wouldn't give the time of day to.
    HI: शायद उनकी किसी लड़की से दोस्ती है तो मुझे वक्त नहीं देते हैं.
  • EN: For what it's worth, the Grizzly Bear album is the only record in that list I'd give the time of day to.
    HI: इलेक्ट्रॉनिक बधाई देने वाला हल्का-फुल्का मूड सिर्फ वह उपहार है जो मैं इस छुट्टियों के मौसम में देना चाहता हूं।
  • EN: An equal number of them I STILL wouldn't give the time of day!
    HI: एक ही खूबी है मेरे में, मैं वक़्त आने पर धोखा नहीं देता !
  • EN: who i still don't give the time of day to... history will never be forgotten:S
    HI: जो भुला ना पाऊँ मैं दिन- रातें
  • EN: Before we give the time of day to any candidate, we need to ask what they've done for this country for the past 6 years, other than talk.
    HI: इसे ढूंढ निकालने में हमें पूरे नौ बरस लग गए...आख़िर इससे ये पूछना तो बनता ही हैं, इन नौ बरसों में इसने क्या किया...।

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Source: Wiktionary