| Subject | English | Russian |
| saying. | it's good to have mustard in time, not after dinner | хороша ложка к обеду (violet_me) |
| proverb | it's good to have mustard in time, not after dinner | дорога ложка к обеду (contrast: after dinner (or meat), mustard. after death, the doctor. slow help is no help. when the house is burned down, you bring water. when a thing is done, advice comes too late. Used to mean: that is good what is in time) |
| gen. | not in good time | не своевременно (рус.: раздельно, если есть противопоставление или отрицание своевременности MichaelBurov) |