The paper considers the issue of encoding distances and time intervals in Russian phraseology. We view the ways of phraseological units to reflect various models of time and space that contradict each other in the scientific picture of the world. The study aims to analyze the system of encoding space and time by means of phraseological units and determine whether it is performed by separate ways or by a coherent system of means. Gradual standard modeling was used as a method for this study, based on 56 phraseological units denoting space and time intervals and the total of 3640 reactions obtained from 127 listeners. The results demonstrate that in gradual standards for space and time intervals built on Russian phraseological units it is possible to single out zones that are encoded by certain means: close zone - by nominating body parts and its movements and remote zones - by nominating far-away countries and undiscovered mythological worlds, i. e. encoding is performed on a similar basis. This similarity of