Micronesian time
- noun
- Offensive
:
[ofensivo] hora micronesia
- On Micronesian time, being half an hour late is perfectly acceptable.
Examples
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We agreed to start the meeting at eight, but with Micronesian time it began closer to nine.
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He joked that he must be running on Micronesian time after showing up late.
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We should meet at 3 PM, but with Micronesian time, it could be anytime!
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Don't worry if you're late; it's just Micronesian time.
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He joked that he must be running on Micronesian time after showing up late.
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On Micronesian time, being half an hour late is perfectly acceptable.
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We agreed to start the meeting at eight, but with Micronesian time it began closer to nine.
Synonyms
A relaxed way of keeping time when people often arrive late
A joking way to say people often arrive later than planned in Samoa
A relaxed way of planning time and events common in Pacific island cultures
A relaxed way of dealing with time in Hawaii where events often start later than planned
A relaxed way of managing time in Fiji where being late is not a problem
A relaxed way of living that does not follow strict schedules
A relaxed, slow way of living where schedules are not strict
A relaxed approach to schedules where people often arrive late
A relaxed way of keeping time when people often arrive later than planned
A relaxed view of time in Puerto Rico where events often start later than planned
How Punctual
Surface Forms
Morphology
Micronesian + time
The components 'Micronesian' (relating to Micronesia) and 'time' (clock/schedule) signal a meaning connected to the way time is experienced or scheduled in Micronesia, so a learner can guess it refers to a regional approach to punctuality. However, the specific humorous/connotative sense of a relaxed, flexible attitude to scheduling depends on cultural knowledge and idiomatic use (cf. 'island time'), so the full meaning is not fully predictable from the parts alone.
Etymology
Micronesian time may come from island life in Micronesia, where people follow the sun, tides and each other's pace more than strict clocks, so events often start when people arrive. So it now means a relaxed attitude to 'punctuality' or being 'on time'.