C1idiomtimeIELTS-friendly
in the small hours
USUK
in the very early morning, between about 1 and 4 a.m.
Also 'the small hours of the morning'. Common in British news; American English often says 'the wee hours'.
In context
The fire started in the small hours, when most residents were asleep.
I often finish my essays in the small hours of the morning.
More idioms about time
- a blast from the pastsomething or someone that suddenly reminds you of an earlier time
- a long time comingif something is a long time coming, people have waited a long time for it
- a matter of timecertain to happen, although you do not know exactly when
- a race against timea situation where you must hurry to finish before time runs out
- a sign of the timessomething that shows how society is now, often in a bad way