come to time

The expression was used in prizefighting (boxing).

come to time (third-person singular simple present comes to time, present participle coming to time, simple past came to time, past participle come to time)

1. (dated) To come forward in order to resume the contest when the interval allowed for rest is over and time is called.
   • 1834, Frederick Marryat, Jacob Faithful:

     We fights for ten minutes or so, and then I hits him a round blow on the ear, and he falls down on the hard, and couldn't come to time. No wonder, poor fellow ! for he had gone to eternity.

2. (idiomatic) To maintain an appointment; to meet expectations.