Enjoyable experiences seem to pass by very quickly, making time feel like it's moving faster than usual.
This phrase is a modern English version of the Latin 'tempus fugit' (time flies), which dates back to Virgil's Georgics around 29 BC. The specific addition 'when you're having fun' became popular in the 20th century, reflecting our understanding of how emotional states affect time perception.
Psychologists have proven this idiom scientifically accurate through studies showing that when we're engaged and enjoying ourselves, we pay less attention to time's passage, making it seem to accelerate. Conversely, when bored or anxious, we're hyper-aware of time, making it crawl - which is why 'a watched pot never boils!'
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