Days passed, still no news.

Meaning: Time passed, but the girl still did not have any information about her lost dog.

Choice of Words: Days passed means time went by, still means continuing in the same state, no news means no information.

Alternative Expressions

Time went by, but there was no news.

Meaning: This means the same as the first example: time has passed, but we haven't heard any new information about something we were expecting.

Choice of Words: Time refers to the indefinite continuous progress of existence and events in the past, present, and future. Went by means to pass or elapse. But is a conjunction used to connect two contrasting ideas. There is used to refer to a place or thing that has already been mentioned. Was is a form of the verb "to be." No means the absence of something. News refers to information about recent events. When you put them together, "Time went by, but there was no news" describes a situation where a period of time has elapsed and no new information has been received.

As days turned into weeks, we still hadn't heard anything new.

Meaning: This means the same as the first two examples: time has passed, but we haven't heard any new information about something we were expecting.

Choice of Words: As is used to introduce a clause that describes a situation or event that is happening at the same time as the main clause. Days refers to a period of 24 hours. Turned into means to change or become something else. Weeks refers to a period of seven days. We refers to the speaker and one or more other people. Still means to continue to be the same without any change. Hadn't is a contraction of "had not." Heard means to perceive sound with the ear. Anything means any one thing from a group of things. New means not existing before. When you put them together, "As days turned into weeks, we still hadn't heard anything new" describes a situation where a period of time has elapsed and no new information has been received.

Related Expressions