At a time meaning in English
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Definition
at a time: after another, at one time; straight, without pause; simultaneously
You stay on the phone for three hours at a time. Your ear must hurt with a phone to it for three hours without a pause.
The doctor will see each of you one at a time, so please wait in the waiting room until the doctor calls your name.
Don't confuse with:
At a time like this in this current climate; in this particular moment
Examples
- "His many tasks involve everything from chemical experimentation to intense brainstorming sessions, during which he lies prostrate on a bed of needles and repeats a string of incomprehensible syllables, often for hours at a time."
Exercise 1
a princess kissed a toad, and it turned into a prince. The two got married and lived happily ever after.
Once upon a time a princess kissed a toad, and it turned into a prince. The two got married and lived happily ever after.
Once upon a time: 'Once upon a time' is an idiom commonly used in fairy tales. The expression indicates that something (a story, an event) occurred long ago in the past.
There was once a time: 'There was once a time' is not the proper way to express this common idiom, although it is grammatically correct.
Upon a time once: 'Upon a time once' is grammatically incorrect. The wording of the phrase is out of order.
One at a time: 'One at a time' is incorrect. We might say 'one (person) at a time', but this does not make sense in the example given.
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