--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Time flies like an arrow - but fruit…" description: "\"Time flies like an arrow - but fruit flies like a banana.\" — Terry Wogan" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb3/terry-wogan-8372_arrow_time-flies-like-an-arrow-but-fruit-flies_2006021.jpg" --- # Time flies like an arrow - but fruit flies like a banana. ![“Time flies like an arrow - but fruit flies like a banana.” quote by Terry Wogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb3/terry-wogan-8372_arrow_time-flies-like-an-arrow-but-fruit-flies_2006021.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb3/terry-wogan-8372_arrow_time-flies-like-an-arrow-but-fruit-flies_2006021.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb3/terry-wogan-8372_arrow_time-flies-like-an-arrow-but-fruit-flies_2006021.jpg) > “Time flies like an arrow - but fruit flies like a banana.” [Terry Wogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-wogan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Wordplay contrasts literal time with scientific metaphor, highlighting language’s playful ambiguity. **In simple terms:** Time flies, but fruit flies differ. Key Takeaway Enjoy linguistic humor. Themes language humor science Mood lighthearted playful Type humorous educational When to use this quote - teaching - writing - icebreakers Key Concepts linguistics biology wordplay Questions to Reflect On - How does wordplay affect comprehension? - When is humor appropriate in professional settings? A Different Perspective Humor may obscure factual clarity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Fruit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fruit/) [Fruit flies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fruit-flies/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [Time flies like an arrow, and fruit flies like a banana.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alec-straub/time-flies-like-an-arrow-and-fruit-flies-like-a-banana/) [Alec Straub](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alec-straub/) > [Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/time-flies-like-an-arrow-fruit-flies-like-a-banana/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“As we all know, time sometimes flies like a bird, and sometimes crawls like a worm, but people may be unusually happy when they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivan-sergeevich-turgenev/as-we-all-know-time-sometimes-flies-like-a-bird-and-sometimes-crawls/) Ivan Sergeevich Turgenev > [Time sometimes flies like a bird, sometimes crawls like a snail; but a man is happiest when he does not even notice whether it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivan-turgenev/time-sometimes-flies-like-a-bird-sometimes-crawls-like-a-snail-but-a/) [Ivan Turgenev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivan-turgenev/) > [The bad news is time flies like an arrow and the good news is the bow is in your hands.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/the-bad-news-is-time-flies-like-an-arrow-and-the-good-news-is-the-bow/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [“(T)ime flies like a mountain stream and who asks a question today may not hear the answer tomorrow.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idwal-jones/t-ime-flies-like-a-mountain-stream-and-who-asks-a-question-today-may/) Idwal Jones > [An X-wing fighter flies like an airplane. If you look at the physics, it's actually quite impossible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-spaihts/an-x-wing-fighter-flies-like-an-airplane-if-you-look-at-the-physics/) [Jon Spaihts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-spaihts/) > [I don't kill flies but I like to mess with their minds. I hold them above globes. They freak out and yell, 'Whoa, I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-baum/i-don-t-kill-flies-but-i-like-to-mess-with-their-minds-i-hold-them/) Bruce Baum > [Time, as is well known, sometimes flies like a bird and sometimes crawls like a worm, but human beings are generally particularly happy when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivan-turgenev/time-as-is-well-known-sometimes-flies-like-a-bird-and-sometimes/) [Ivan Turgenev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivan-turgenev/) > [He stopped to rest at a cart selling nuts and candy, bought himself some Jelly Belly's, flirted just enought with the Mexican cutie working…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-elizabeth-phillips/he-stopped-to-rest-at-a-cart-selling-nuts-and-candy-bought-himself/) [Susan Elizabeth Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-elizabeth-phillips/) > [“Love is like a banana, and I keep it in my pocket on cold days to warm up my hand.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/love-is-like-a-banana-and-i-keep-it-in-my-pocket-on-cold-days-to-warm/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [My mind is like a banana tree filled with monkeys clamouring for attention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/my-mind-is-like-a-banana-tree-filled-with-monkeys-clamouring-for/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Treated more like a vegetable than a fruit, plantains can be prepared in various ways depending on their stage of ripeness. Just like a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sohla-el-waylly/treated-more-like-a-vegetable-than-a-fruit-plantains-can-be-prepared/) [Sohla El-Waylly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sohla-el-waylly/) > [His venture sounds like a banana peel awaiting its victim.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-curtis/his-venture-sounds-like-a-banana-peel-awaiting-its-victim/) Charlotte Curtis > [I was not very strong growing up, and my uncle used to look at me, like, 'This kid is not growing up, he is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dikembe-mutombo/i-was-not-very-strong-growing-up-and-my-uncle-used-to-look-at-me-like/) [Dikembe Mutombo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dikembe-mutombo/) ## More by Terry Wogan > [Oh, I'm a great believer in the power of the pause. Radio is a bit brasher now. My style was slower. I just used…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-wogan/oh-i-m-a-great-believer-in-the-power-of-the-pause-radio-is-a-bit/) [Terry Wogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-wogan/) > [My father was always slightly bemused by my success. Although he knew that I had reasonable intelligence, he always thought that I was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-wogan/my-father-was-always-slightly-bemused-by-my-success-although-he-knew/) [Terry Wogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-wogan/) > [I'm glad there's been so much laughter in the audience tonight." "But they're not laughing with you. They're laughing at you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-wogan/i-m-glad-there-s-been-so-much-laughter-in-the-audience-tonight-but/) [Terry Wogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-wogan/) > [A couple of years before he died, I kissed my father goodbye. He said, 'Son, you haven't kissed me since you were a little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-wogan/a-couple-of-years-before-he-died-i-kissed-my-father-goodbye-he-said/) [Terry Wogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-wogan/) > [I've always had an unsentimental view. I don't think the BBC is my auntie. I worked there for years, and you learn that they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-wogan/i-ve-always-had-an-unsentimental-view-i-don-t-think-the-bbc-is-my/) [Terry Wogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-wogan/) > [I've no patience for people who say they never watch television. It's a great way to keep in touch with popular culture, and it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-wogan/i-ve-no-patience-for-people-who-say-they-never-watch-television-it-s/) [Terry Wogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-wogan/) > [I get a lot of letters from people saying, 'How do I get into radio, how do I get into telly?' and I wish…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-wogan/i-get-a-lot-of-letters-from-people-saying-how-do-i-get-into-radio-how/) [Terry Wogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-wogan/) > [I have great fun with the Togs - Terry's Old Geezers and Gals. They're a group that formed around me over the years of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-wogan/i-have-great-fun-with-the-togs-terry-s-old-geezers-and-gals-they-re-a/) [Terry Wogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-wogan/) > [Age, they say, is only important if you're cheese. or a wine. They also say, if you are stuck behind one on a golf…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-wogan/age-they-say-is-only-important-if-you-re-cheese-or-a-wine-they-also/) [Terry Wogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-wogan/) > [I will never do 'I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!' There are certain things you'll do that you have some control over,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-wogan/i-will-never-do-i-m-a-celebrity-get-me-out-of-here-there-are-certain/) [Terry Wogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-wogan/) > [I'm asked to do 'Strictly Come Dancing' on a regular basis, but I always say no.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-wogan/i-m-asked-to-do-strictly-come-dancing-on-a-regular-basis-but-i-always/) [Terry Wogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-wogan/) > [A talk show is about having a look at a famous face, a bit of stand-up comedy, knockabout stuff - an interview is what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-wogan/a-talk-show-is-about-having-a-look-at-a-famous-face-a-bit-of-stand-up/) [Terry Wogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-wogan/) > [Worried about a skin condition? Leap smartly into a bath of porridge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-wogan/worried-about-a-skin-condition-leap-smartly-into-a-bath-of-porridge/) [Terry Wogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-wogan/) > [There's not enough silliness in the world. Eurovision helps to keep it balanced.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-wogan/there-s-not-enough-silliness-in-the-world-eurovision-helps-to-keep-it/) [Terry Wogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-wogan/) > [I have a happy temperament: a bit like 'Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-wogan/i-have-a-happy-temperament-a-bit-like-rebecca-of-sunnybrook-farm/) [Terry Wogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-wogan/) [Explore all 81 Terry Wogan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-wogan/) ## More Arrow quotes > [I'll get that arrow, pretty boy, and I'll do it with my shirt \*on\*. -Yao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mulan/i-ll-get-that-arrow-pretty-boy-and-i-ll-do-it-with-my-shirt-on-yao/) [Mulan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mulan/) > [Enough for this bow & arrow. It caused me nothing but sorrow. No need for another tomorrow. In your heart, I will never be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louaiq8/enough-for-this-bow-arrow-it-caused-me-nothing-but-sorrow-no-need-for/) Louaiq8 > [The main thing is to have strings to your bow. You get your badges, you see where life is, and then you see what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sol-campbell/the-main-thing-is-to-have-strings-to-your-bow-you-get-your-badges-you/) [Sol Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sol-campbell/) > [There are ceremonious bows that repel one like a cudgel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-nestell-bovee/there-are-ceremonious-bows-that-repel-one-like-a-cudgel/) [Christian Nestell Bovee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-nestell-bovee/) > [Game of Thrones. I'm all about it. I watch Arrow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-r-mcqueen/game-of-thrones-i-m-all-about-it-i-watch-arrow/) [Steven R. McQueen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-r-mcqueen/) > [“Took an arrow in the knee on my way through the Eld three summers ago. It gives out every now and then.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/took-an-arrow-in-the-knee-on-my-way-through-the-eld-three-summers-ago/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [My Band, Pierce the Arrow, is my other passion along with acting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-sandoval/my-band-pierce-the-arrow-is-my-other-passion-along-with-acting/) [Tom Sandoval](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-sandoval/) > [If you shoot an arrow and it goes real high... Hooray for you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorian-corey/if-you-shoot-an-arrow-and-it-goes-real-high-hooray-for-you/) [Dorian Corey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorian-corey/) > [You can learn from an ordinary bamboo leaf what ought to happen. It bends lower and lower under the weight of snow. Suddenly the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugen-herrigel/you-can-learn-from-an-ordinary-bamboo-leaf-what-ought-to-happen-it/) [Eugen Herrigel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugen-herrigel/) > [“It was chosen by the archer and though it is a long way off, we cannot blame it when we fail to hit it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/it-was-chosen-by-the-archer-and-though-it-is-a-long-way-off-we-cannot/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [Follow your arrow / Wherever it points,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kacey-musgraves/follow-your-arrow-wherever-it-points/) [Kacey Musgraves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kacey-musgraves/) > [If the work is high and far, You must not only aim aright, But draw the bow with all your might.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/if-the-work-is-high-and-far-you-must-not-only-aim-aright-but-draw-the/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“How did you kill the Ashman in the forest last year?” “I shot him with an arrow.” “What kind of arrow?” “A sharp one.”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chelsea-fine/how-did-you-kill-the-ashman-in-the-forest-last-year-i-shot-him-with/) [Chelsea Fine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chelsea-fine/) > [If someone comes along and shoots an arrow into your heart, it’s fruitless to stand there and yell at the person. It would be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/if-someone-comes-along-and-shoots-an-arrow-into-your-heart-it-s/) [Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [I must only warn you of one thing. You have become a different person in the course of these years. For this is what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugen-herrigel/i-must-only-warn-you-of-one-thing-you-have-become-a-different-person/) [Eugen Herrigel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugen-herrigel/) Browse all 232 Arrow quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Time flies like an arrow - but fruit flies like a banana.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Terry Wogan" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-wogan/time-flies-like-an-arrow-but-fruit-flies-like-a-banana/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Arrow" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-wogan/time-flies-like-an-arrow-but-fruit-flies-like-a-banana/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb3/terry-wogan-8372_arrow_time-flies-like-an-arrow-but-fruit-flies_2006021.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb3/terry-wogan-8372_arrow_time-flies-like-an-arrow-but-fruit-flies_2006021.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb3/terry-wogan-8372_arrow_time-flies-like-an-arrow-but-fruit-flies_2006021.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Time flies like an arrow - but fruit flies like a banana.” — Terry Wogan", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Terry Wogan", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-wogan/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Time flies like an arrow -...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-wogan/time-flies-like-an-arrow-but-fruit-flies-like-a-banana/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-wogan/time-flies-like-an-arrow-but-fruit-flies-like-a-banana/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```