Every once in a while
Example: I visit my grandparents every once in a while.
Definition
"Every once in a while" is an adverbial phrase that means occasionally or from time to time, indicating something happens infrequently but regularly enough to be noticed. For example, in 'I visit my grandparents every once in a while,' it shows visits are not frequent but happen now and then.
Etymology
The phrase "every once in a while" combines 'every,' meaning all or each, with 'once in a while,' an old expression dating back to at least the 19th century. 'Once in a while' originally meant 'occasionally,' and the addition of 'every' emphasizes repeated intervals of irregular occurrence. Did you know? The phrase reflects how people have long expressed occasional actions with colorful, time-based idioms.
Learn to use this expression actively
"Every once in a while" appears in the Vocaplus list "English - General - Idioms and Proverbs - (B2) - set 1", containing 103 commonly used expressions.
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