Time passes quickly, especially when one is busy or enjoying oneself.
This phrase is a direct translation of the Latin "tempus fugit," which appeared in Virgil's Georgics around 29 BCE. The English version "time flies" became popular in the 18th century, often used in the fuller form "time flies when you're having fun," reflecting the psychological phenomenon that enjoyable activities make us less aware of time's passage.
The phrase taps into a genuine neurological quirk: when we're engaged and happy, our brains process fewer temporal markers, making time seem to accelerate. Conversely, boredom makes us hyper-aware of time's crawl - which is why "a watched pot never boils" exists as its perfect complement!
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