go back in time

1. Literally, to physically return to an earlier point in time. I wish I could go back in time to when dinosaurs roamed the Earth—how cool would that be? If I could go back in time, I'd manage my finances better so that I wouldn't be declaring bankruptcy now. I wish I could go back in time and study harder before that exam I failed.

2. To discuss or think about past events or memories. It was lovely finding our old photo albums and going back in time for a few hours. Today, kids, we're going back in time and discussing the Great Depression. No, I can't go back in time and think about all the things I regret in my life.

3. To visit some place or interact with something that is very outdated and thus evocative of an earlier time period. Going to Grandma's house is like going back in time—shag carpeting, wood paneling, basically a whole lot of yikes. Is that a rotary phone? Wow, I feel like I've gone back in time! I feel like I've gone back in time whenever I get into Uncle Ned's big old boat of a Cadillac.