Every once in a while
Example: I visit my grandparents every once in a while to say hello.
Definition
"Every once in a while" is a phrase used to describe something that happens occasionally or infrequently, but regularly enough to be noticeable. It indicates actions or events that are not constant but occur from time to time, such as visiting grandparents every once in a while.
Etymology
The phrase "every once in a while" combines 'every,' meaning each, with 'once in a while,' an idiomatic expression dating back to the 17th century. It originally referred to something happening at intervals, and over time, it became a common way to express occasional occurrences in English.
Learn to use this expression actively
"Every once in a while" appears in the Vocaplus list "English - General - Idioms and Proverbs - (B1) - set 1", containing 123 commonly used expressions.
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