Example: You should finish your homework sooner rather than later.
Definition
"Sooner rather than later" is an expression used to indicate that something should be done promptly or without delay, emphasizing the preference for an earlier time instead of a later one. For example, "You should finish your homework sooner rather than later."
Translations
más pronto que tarde
liever vroeger dan later
més aviat que tard
plus tôt que tard
eher früher als später
Etymology
The phrase "sooner rather than later" combines the comparative adverb "sooner," meaning 'at an earlier time,' with the contrasting phrase "rather than later," which emphasizes avoiding delay. It originated from everyday English usage to encourage prompt action, though its exact historical origin is unclear.
Learn to use this expression actively
"Sooner rather than later" appears in the Vocaplus list "English - General - Idioms and Proverbs - (A2) - set 1", containing 104 commonly used expressions.
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