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Glite Dictionary
Caribbean time

Caribbean time

7.7
A relaxed approach to schedules where people often arrive late
  • noun
  • UK
translation icon : hora caribeña
  • On Caribbean time, being an hour late to a party isn't unusual at all.

Examples

  • Many islanders live by Caribbean time, never rushing to meet strict deadlines.

  • After moving to Jamaica, he quickly adapted to the local Caribbean time mentality.

  • Don't worry, it's just Caribbean time!

  • She always arrives late because of Caribbean time.

  • In the Caribbean, people often embrace Caribbean time, which means they take a laid-back approach to appointments.

  • Living in the Caribbean, I learned that Caribbean time often means arriving whenever you feel like it.

  • When planning her wedding in the Bahamas, she was reminded that Caribbean time allows for flexibility in scheduling.

Synonyms

Samoan time
vsCaribbean time
  • Australian
9.7

A relaxed way of keeping time when people often arrive late

applies to a different region rather than that culture
Palauan time
vsCaribbean time
  • US
9.9

A relaxed way of planning time and events common in Pacific island cultures

applies to a different region rather than that culture
Hawaiian time
vsCaribbean time
  • Informal
8.4

A relaxed way of dealing with time in Hawaii where events often start later than planned

applies to a different region rather than that culture
Fiji time
vsCaribbean time
  • Informal
9.0

A relaxed way of managing time in Fiji where being late is not a problem

applies to a different region rather than that culture
Puerto Rican time
vsCaribbean time
  • Offensive
9.6

A relaxed view of time in Puerto Rico where events often start later than planned

applies to a different region rather than that culture
island time mentality
vsCaribbean time
8.3

A relaxed way of living that does not follow strict schedules

is more region specific rather than this general island attitude
classic Samoan time
vsCaribbean time
  • Offensive
9.9

A joking way to say people often arrive later than planned in Samoa

is a straightforward regional term rather than a joking expression
Micronesian time
vsCaribbean time
  • Offensive
9.9

A relaxed way of keeping time where being late is normal

is a straightforward regional term rather than playful or joking
African time
vsCaribbean time
  • Offensive
9.5

A relaxed way of keeping time when people often arrive later than planned

is a regular regional term rather than a broadly humorous label

Antonyms

punctuality
16 3.5

Arriving or finishing things at the agreed time

How Relaxed

Caribbean time
  • UK
7.7
on time
321 1.0

Surface Forms

Caribbean time singular
Caribbean times plural

Morphology

Caribbean + time

The phrase combines the place-name 'Caribbean' with 'time', so a B1 learner can infer it refers to a regional way of relating to time, but the specific pragmatic meaning of a relaxed or lax approach to punctuality depends on cultural knowledge. Because the idiomatic nuance (i.e. ‘relaxed punctuality’) is not fully predictable from the constituents alone, this is best classified as semi-transparent.

Etymology

Caribbean time comes from life on the islands, where time follows the sun and people move at a slower pace. So, being 'on Caribbean time' means being 'relaxed' about exact schedules and often arriving late.