time will tell
Wait and see
Time will tell means the outcome or truth will become clear eventually, though it's uncertain now.
The phrase acknowledges that some things can only be known through the passage of time: Will the merger succeed? Time will tell.
Often used when declining to predict or judge prematurely.
- outcomeFinal result of events
- consequenceResult of an action
- remain to be seenNot yet proven
- hindsightRecognition after the fact
- in due courseWhen appropriately expected
eventually · sooner or later · change · patience · prove · truth · unfold · moment of truth · foresight · wisdom · wait and see · one day · revelation · perspective · inevitability · uncertainty · destiny · future
- time sayingscarpe diem, seize the day, better late than never, tempus fugit, haste makes waste
- clichescliche, platitude, bromide, tired phrase, worn phrase
- sayingssayings, saying, proverb, proverbs, adage
- Noncommittalneutral, undecided, on the fence, noncommittal, indifferent
- uncertaintyuncertainty, uncertain, unknown, unsure, unclear
- patience phraseswait, hold on, just a minute, one moment, one second
time will tellwithout a doubt
With complete certainty
crystal clear · beyond question · no question about it · mark my words · bet on it
time will tellno question about it
without a doubt · case closed · clearly · obviously · undoubtedly
time, tell, telling, timely, tells, retell, timetable, storyteller, overtime