Meaning
Something is overdue
Cultural Background
The 'Social Exit' is a ritual. Using this phrase allows the host to offer 'one last cup of coffee' or 'en lille en' (a small drink), which you can then politely decline. Danish meetings often end exactly on time. A participant saying 'Det er ved at være tid' is seen as helpful, not rude. Danish parents use this to avoid conflict. It frames the time as an external force rather than a parental command. In Denmark, 'tid' is precise. If the S-tog leaves at 14:02, 'ved at være tid' means it is 14:00.
The 'Vist' Trick
Add 'vist' (probably) to make it even more polite: 'Det er vist ved at være tid.' This is the peak of Danish social grace.
Don't skip 'være'
Saying 'Det er ved at tid' is a common beginner mistake. Always keep the 'være'!
Meaning
Something is overdue
The 'Vist' Trick
Add 'vist' (probably) to make it even more polite: 'Det er vist ved at være tid.' This is the peak of Danish social grace.
Don't skip 'være'
Saying 'Det er ved at tid' is a common beginner mistake. Always keep the 'være'!
Test Yourself
Fill in the missing words to say 'It is getting to be time for coffee.'
Det er ___ ___ ___ tid til kaffe.
The idiom requires 'ved at være' to mean 'getting to be.'
Which phrase is most polite when leaving a party?
Du er til en fest og vil gå hjem. Hvad siger du?
This is the standard polite way to announce a departure.
Match the Danish phrase to its English equivalent.
Match the pairs:
Each phrase has a specific nuance of urgency.
🎉 Score: /3
Visual Learning Aids
Practice Bank
3 exercisesDet er ___ ___ ___ tid til kaffe.
The idiom requires 'ved at være' to mean 'getting to be.'
Du er til en fest og vil gå hjem. Hvad siger du?
This is the standard polite way to announce a departure.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
Each phrase has a specific nuance of urgency.
🎉 Score: /3
Frequently Asked Questions
2 questionsYes, it's perfect for reminding a colleague that a deadline is approaching without being aggressive.
Use 'tid til' before a noun (tid til kaffe) and 'tid til at' before a verb (tid til at sove).
Related Phrases
på tide
similarhigh time
at lakke mod enden
similardrawing to a close
lige om lidt
builds onin just a moment
