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A Time To Kill

What is a time to kill?

· James MacDonald

Key facts

Meaning A period with no responsibilities to fulfill[2]
Meaning Free time to spend doing nothing or very little[4]
Novel year 1989[1]
Author John Grisham[1]
Film year 1996[1]

A time to kill is a period of unused or free time that must be filled while waiting for something else to happen. It is also the title of a 1989 novel by John Grisham and a 1996 film based on that novel.

Context

The idiom 'a time to kill' describes spare time that must be filled while waiting for something else to happen [2]. It is also the title of John Grisham's 1989 novel and the 1996 film adaptation [1]. The film follows a young Mississippi lawyer defending a Black man who killed the men who raped his daughter [1]. The phrase also appears in Ecclesiastes 3:3 [5].

Documented claims

  • The phrase is used for spare time while waiting for an event or outcome. [2]
  • In the idiom, 'kill' means use up time, not violence. [3]
  • The film is based on Grisham's novel of the same name. [1]
  • The biblical phrase 'a time to kill' appears in Ecclesiastes 3:3. [5]

Questions and answers

Is the film A Time to Kill a true story?

The film is based on John Grisham's novel, not a true story [1].

What is the controversy with the movie A Time to Kill?

The film deals with racial themes and a violent act, which sparked discussion at the time of its release [6].

Where can I watch A Time to Kill in Canada?

The source packet does not specify streaming availability in Canada.

Sources

  1. Time-to-kill Definition — yourdictionary.com (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  2. Meaning of have time to kill in English - Cambridge Dictionary — dictionary.cambridge.org (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  3. What Does "a Time to Kill" Mean in Ecclesiastes 3:3? | iBelieve.com — ibelieve.com (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  4. time to kill — idioms.thefreedictionary.com (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  5. Time to kill - Definition & Meaning — gymglish.com (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  6. A Time To Kill movie review & film summary — rogerebert.com (retrieved August 3, 2026)

Sources last checked August 3, 2026. · More in Entertainment