Once in a while
Example: I like to visit the park once in a while.
Definition
"Once in a while" is an adverbial phrase meaning occasionally or infrequently, used to describe actions or events that happen from time to time but not regularly. For example, "I like to visit the park once in a while" means visiting the park sometimes but not often.
Etymology
The phrase "once in a while" originates from the combination of "once," meaning one single time, and "while," meaning a short period of time. Together, they convey the idea of something happening at intervals. This expression has been in use since at least the 16th century to indicate sporadic occurrences.
Learn to use this expression actively
"Once in a while" appears in the Vocaplus list "English - General - Idioms and Proverbs - (A2) - set 1", containing 104 commonly used expressions.
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