only time will tell
Await the outcome
Only time will tell means the outcome or truth of something won't be known until later—we must wait and see how events unfold.
The phrase acknowledges uncertainty while suggesting that clarity will eventually come: Will the merger succeed? Only time will tell.
It's a way of declining to predict or judge prematurely.
- durationLength of existence
- wait and seeDefer until clarity comes
- remains to be seenOutcome not yet known
- ambiguityOpenness to multiple interpretations
- truthAccordance with reality
moment · mystery · speculation · probability · anticipation · destiny · forecast · doubt · inevitability · hindsight · the jury is still out · patience is a virtue · delay · eternity · what goes around comes around · revelation · wisdom · omen
- clichescliche, platitude, bromide, tired phrase, worn phrase
- time sayingscarpe diem, seize the day, better late than never, tempus fugit, haste makes waste
only time will tellwithout a doubt
With complete certainty
no question about it · beyond doubt · mark my words · rest assured · predetermined
only, time, will, tell, lonely, loneliness, lonesome, timing, timely