Expression "kill time"

[loubna]

Test No. incompl/inter-93 "Hotchpotch", question 1

As we've got plenty of time to ......... before the train comes, let's have a coffee.

(a) waste
(b) lose
(c) spend
(d) kill

Test No. incompl/inter-93 "Hotchpotch", answer 1

As we've got plenty of time to kill before the train comes, let's have a coffee.

Correct answer: (d) kill
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am I RIGHT HERE,?

[Alan]

Yes, you are correct.
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English as a Second Language
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[ADU]

[Alan]

Hi ADU,

You need time to kill in this sentence because it means that you have time you need to use up/occupy before the train arrives. It is used in a positive sense of something to do in this time. Waste time is a negative idea because you only discover that you have wasted your time later and you wouldn't usually start out with the intention of wasting time.

Alan
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