Time flew by unnoticed.

Meaning: This sentence is describing the way time is passing by quickly and without being noticed.

Choice of Words: Time is a noun that means the amount of duration or a period for something to happen. Flew is a verb that means to move quickly through the air. Unnoticed is an adjective that means not seen or observed. When you put them together, "Time flew by unnoticed" means the amount of duration or a period for something to happen moved quickly through the air and was not seen or observed.

Alternative Expressions

The clock ticked away silently.

Meaning: This means that the clock was making a very quiet sound, and you couldn't hear it. It's like saying, The clock was making a very quiet ticking sound, but I couldn't hear it.

Choice of Words: Clock is a device that measures time. Ticked is a verb that means to make a small, regular sound, like the sound of a clock. Away means to create distance from the current location or to move from the speaker. Silently means without making any sound. When you put them together, "The clock ticked away silently" means that the clock was making a small, regular sound, but it was so quiet that you couldn't hear it.

The seconds slipped away like sand through my fingers.

Meaning: This means that the time was going by very quickly, and you couldn't stop it. It's like saying, The time was going by so fast, I couldn't believe it.

Choice of Words: Seconds are units of time that are equal to one sixtieth of a minute. Slipped is a verb that means to move smoothly and quietly. Away means to create distance from the current location or to move from the speaker. Like sand through my fingers is a simile that compares the passing of time to the way sand slips through your fingers. When you put them together, "The seconds slipped away like sand through my fingers" means that the seconds were passing by very quickly and smoothly, and you couldn't stop them.

Related Expressions