It's about time

[zuzicka]

Test No. incompl/advan-13 "Time Expressions (1)", question 7

It's ......... time she learnt to look after herself.

(a) of
(b) in
(c) about
(d) through

Test No. incompl/advan-13 "Time Expressions (1)", answer 7

It's about time she learnt to look after herself.

Correct answer: (c) about
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explain please:)

[Alan]

It's about time the train arrived means that the time has now come when the train should be here.
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English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Present Simple

[Rich7]

For me as I have learnt, this expression has a peculiar meaning which by the way it's tricky to explain,anyway here it is:

It is used to express certain feeling of relief,anger,anguish after being waiting for somebody or something that was supposed to be expected at a determined time.

Thanks god you arrived, it's about time you dummy

[Almas88246]

Hi Alan
Could you give me another example about this expression ?
(do you mean that the time has done and the thing which we have been waiting doesn't happen yet)
thank you.

[RudnyBR]

''I’m selling gas at 2/3 the price it was back in 2005, and about a third of its peak price in 2008! Somebody must be cheating me out of my gas, and it’s about time Obama looked into it!''

From http://stevemaley.com/2011/04/22/obama-appoints-oil-and-gas-price-fraud-working-group-its-about-time/
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Wheresoever you go, go with all your heart.