egg timer

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egg timer

She sets the egg timer for three minutes while the water boils.

Definition
  1. Noun:
    • A small timing device: An egg timer is a device used to measure a specific, short interval of time, traditionally three minutes, which is the typical time needed to boil an egg to a soft consistency.
    • A type of sandglass: The classic form of an egg timer is a sandglass or hourglass containing enough sand to run for a set period, most commonly three minutes.
Usage Examples
  • Noun:
    • I set the egg timer for three minutes to get a perfect soft-boiled egg.
    • The old-fashioned egg timer on the kitchen shelf is more reliable than my phone's alarm.
    • She flipped the egg timer over as soon as the water began to boil.
Advanced Usage
  • Metaphorical Use: The term can be used metaphorically to indicate a short, fixed period of time for any activity.
    • The meeting was supposed to be quick, like an egg timer, but it dragged on for an hour.
  • "Egg timer" as a General Timer: While designed for cooking eggs, it is commonly used for other brief kitchen tasks.
    • Use the egg timer for steeping your tea; it's perfect for two to three minutes.
Variants and Related Words
  • Kitchen timer (n): A more general term for any timer used in cooking, which can be digital or mechanical.
    • The digital kitchen timer can be set for any duration, not just three minutes.
  • Hourglass (n): A device for measuring time by the flow of sand from one glass bulb to another.
    • The hourglass on the desk is a decorative item, not a practical egg timer.
Synonyms
  • Sandglass: A timer consisting of two glass bulbs connected by a narrow neck, through which sand flows.
  • Three-minute timer: A descriptive synonym specifying the common duration.
Related Phrases
  • "The timer is running": A phrase indicating that a measured period of time has begun.
    • Once you add the pasta, the timer is running.
  • "Against the clock": Doing something within a strict time limit.
    • Finishing the exam felt like a race against the clock.
Related Idioms
  • "Don't let the sand run out": An idiom advising someone not to waste time or to act before an opportunity is gone. This is conceptually linked to the imagery of a sand timer.
    • If you want to apply for the job, do it now—don't let the sand run out.
egg timer

She sets the egg timer for three minutes while the water boils.

Noun
  1. a sandglass that runs for three minutes; used to time the boiling of eggs