The way individuals perceive the world is often reflected in the language they speak (Ahearn 2016; Boroditsky 2001). Idioms and proverbs, which succinctly encapsulate daily experiences, observations, and reflections on personal and social matters (Mieder2004: 1), offer an insightful lens into how different cultures conceptualize the world. This study explores the metaphorical use of Chinese four-character idioms and English proverbs, examining how native speakers of each language conceptualize time. Using Lakoff and Johnson’s (1980) Conceptual Metaphor Theory within the framework of Cognitive Linguistics, this research aims to uncover how time is perceived and represented as a measure of existence.